Weifang port in Shandong opens to foreign vessels

EAST China's Weifang port has been opened to foreign vessels now that it has been designated a National A Class harbour, reports Xinhua.

Weifang port, built in 1996, is situated in Shandong province's Weifang Economic Development Zone on Laizhou Bay in Bohai Sea. The bay lays on the edge of the Bohai-ring economic circle and Northeast Asia economic cooperation region.

Shangdong province plans to invest CNY7.4 billion (US$1.08 billion) in accelerating construction in coastal ports, planning to open 31 ports to foreign ships beyond those 16 ports classed a National A Class.

Malaysia's Sime Darby Group will invest US$1 billion to increase Weifang port's navigation capacity to 50,000 tonnes and will put in six berths ranging 10,000 to 20,000 tonnes into service next year. The port will complete 15 terminals and berths by the end of 2010 and reach a throughput of 20 million tonnes.

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