Lianyungang Pilot Station Delivers Precision Services to Revive Shipping Sector

From: Lianyungang Daily Updated: 2025-05-28 08:45

Along the 18-kilometer coastline of Lianyungang Port’s main harbor area, most berths are filled with cargo ships. “We’ve maintained a hectic operational pace recently, striving to enhance efficiency and minimize vessel turnaround times,” said Li Geng, deputy director of Lianyungang Pilot Station yesterday. As freight rates for many ocean-going routes rebounded in mid-to-late May, port cargo throughput has gradually warmed up. Lianyungang Pilot Station leverages its technical expertise to safely guide vessels from around the world in and out of the port, bolstering maritime and port development with high-quality services.

Ports serve as a critical “barometer” for foreign trade. With recent shifts in foreign trade dynamics and rising transport demands, export-oriented enterprises are racing to ship goods, creating a short-term peak in cargo outflow. “I’m responsible for piloting a 400,000-ton bulk carrier into port,” said senior pilot Zhang, whose first task of the day was guiding the “Minghui”—a vessel measuring 361 meters in length and 65 meters in width—into a channel barely 500 meters wide at its narrowest point. The difficulty speaks for itself.

“Imagine steering a truck on ice,” Zhang remarked. “These ships have massive inertia and slow responsiveness, requiring coordination between multiple tugboats to maneuver.” Over the past two weeks, mega-vessels of 300,000 or even 400,000 tons have become more frequent. When berthing, these ships must maintain a speed below 5 centimeters per second and align with the dock at near-zero angular deviation—a slight miscalculation could result in collisions. This places immense demands on pilots’ expertise.

“We handle diverse vessel types, while wind, waves, and tides shift constantly,” Li explained. “Pilots must master ship performance, navigation techniques, hydrological conditions, and tidal impacts, while maintaining intimate knowledge of local waters and channels.” The station prioritizes training and knowledge sharing, cultivating a top-tier workforce through talent development programs—the foundation for elevating pilotage service quality.

Efficient ports are the cornerstone of trade. Spurred by positive market signals, export container shipping has seen restored demand across multiple routes in the past week, driving up freight rates and composite indices. Since mid-May, Lianyungang Pilot Station has guided an increasing number of vessels, with projections indicating 688 ships will be piloted in May—a 3.15% year-on-year rise.

Anticipating a production peak in June, Lianyungang Pilot Station remains committed to “synchronizing with port operations and resonating with the city’s economy.” By optimizing procedures, adopting “immediate arrival, immediate pilotage” and “direct berthing/departure” services, and collaborating with port authorities to improve the business environment, the station ensures punctual vessel schedules and the smooth functioning of international logistics corridors. These efforts solidify support for Lianyungang’s integration into the “dual circulation” development paradigm.