With the continuous development of technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, and artificial intelligence, ports are gradually realizing intelligence and automation. On February 25, 2024, the commissioning ceremony of the 2024 world-class port cluster construction project (Rizhao) and the start of new projects of Shandong Port were held in the Shijiu Port Area of Rizhao Port. This time, a total of 27 projects were completed, put into operation, and launched in Rizhao, with a total investment of 53.6 billion yuan. This is a practical measure for Shandong Port to implement the province's high-level opening up and high-quality investment promotion conference, officially sounding the call for high-quality development of Shandong Port in Rizhao in 2024.

Mountains and seas connect the world, and ports and cities work together towards the future. Building a world-class port cluster is an important path to promote the integration of the three regions and implement the "three improvements" and "three satisfaction". In the past five years since its establishment, Shandong Port has continuously amplified its strategic hub and core node role, actively integrated into Rizhao, deeply cultivated Rizhao, and served Rizhao. It has continued to deepen the integration of the port area, park area, and urban area, striving to create a key "chess eye" for national regional coordinated development and an important engine for driving regional economic growth, and fully exerting its role as a bridge and link to serve local economic development, Be a "golden partner" in the economic and social development of Rizhao. The Rizhao Municipal Party Committee and Government attach great importance to the development of the port, regard the port as the most core strategic resource, the most important development platform, and the most beautiful city business card. They regularly work on-site at the port and provide docking services. They have issued a series of policy documents and a package of support measures to fully support the transformation and upgrading of Rizhao Port into a logistics port, trade port, and financial port, Efforts have been made to build three major hubs: land sea linkage transformation in the Yellow River Basin, northern energy, and port based national logistics, opening a new chapter in strengthening ports, promoting production, and revitalizing cities.

In 2023, Rizhao Port completed a cargo throughput of 522 million tons and a container volume of 6 million TEUs, with year-on-year growth of 4.2% and 3.4% respectively, ranking sixth among coastal ports in China. Shandong ports have paid a total of 6.059 billion yuan in taxes to Rizhao City, of which 1.301 billion yuan was paid in 2023, a significant increase. The port city relationship is becoming increasingly close, and the cooperation results are becoming more fruitful, demonstrating the surging momentum of port city coordinated development.

Shandong Port adheres to the deep integration of port construction and urban planning, accelerates the construction of infrastructure, continuously improves port functions, and has invested 102 key engineering projects with a total investment of 70.5 billion yuan. Among them, 56 key projects have been completed, with a total investment of 42.2 billion yuan. The new throughput capacity of the port is 89 million tons and 3.9 million TEUs, with a crude oil storage capacity of 1.6 million cubic meters, a crude oil pipeline transportation capacity of 18 million tons, and a storage yard of 4.2 million square meters, Two 300000 ton waterways and 50 kilometers of railway lines have been built, with an annual grain turnover capacity of 3 million tons.

Especially in 2023, Shandong Port completed and put into operation six projects in Rizhao, with a total investment of 5.2 billion yuan, and added a terminal throughput capacity of 40.23 million tons and 180000 tons of grain silos. Among them, the fourth 300000 ton crude oil terminal was put into operation, and Rizhao Port became the first port in the country with four 300000 ton crude oil terminals in a single port area; Built Lannan # 17 # 18 # 20 berth, with an additional designed annual throughput capacity of 21 million tons; 18 grain silos were put into operation; Build the first fully enclosed screening base in a coastal port in China that is streamlined and scaled up, and extend the iron ore supply chain. The increasingly improved port service level is helping to accelerate the development of port industries such as steel and supporting facilities, petrochemical storage and transportation processing, and grain and oil processing.

Major project construction is the locomotive that drives economic development and an important lever for promoting high-quality economic and social development. The concentrated construction and production project of Shandong Port in Rizhao this time has a large scale, sufficient development potential, and strong radiating power. It is not only a phased achievement demonstration for Shandong Port to accelerate the construction of world-class port clusters and help Rizhao's high-quality development, but also a new starting point for deepening port city cooperation and building port city integration and win-win. It is understood that in 2024, 21 projects will be launched, including the transformation and upgrading project of Rizhao Port, the container terminal renovation and upgrading project of Shijiu Port, the marine equipment research and development and manufacturing base project of Equipment Group, the hazardous chemical container station project of Logistics Group Rizhao Port, the expansion project of Rizhao Port Hospital, and the development and construction of decentralized wind power, with a total investment of about 48.4 billion yuan.

2024 marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of Rizhao City and the 5th anniversary of the establishment of Shandong Port. At this milestone moment, Shandong Port is entering a crucial stage of promoting the construction of world-class port clusters, enhancing the level of "Double First Class", and building core competitive advantages through the "Three Major Construction". Looking forward to the future, Shandong Port will work closely with Rizhao Municipal Party Committee, the municipal government and the vast number of partners to accelerate the implementation of the "three major constructions" with project construction as an important starting point, contribute to the construction of Rizhao's modern coastal city, help green, low-carbon and high-quality development, better serve the national development strategy, and promote the practice of Chinese path to modernization in Shandong. Editor/Zhao E