On May 26, 2026, the second phase of the Yangtze River Estuary South Channel Management Project officially started, with a total investment of 4.45 billion yuan and a construction period of 4.5 years. As the first water transportation project to start construction on the Yangtze River trunk line in the 15th Five Year Plan period, this project is launched against the backdrop of the reshaping of the global trade pattern and the continuous increase in logistics demand in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, with outstanding milestone significance.

Channel upgrade, from 6 meters to 8 meters

The total length of the project is about 86 kilometers, and the core construction content includes a 24 kilometer long beach protection and diversion embankment with a top elevation of+2 meters, dredging of the 36 kilometer southern channel, and supporting safety facilities such as navigation assistance. After completion, the navigation depth of the southern channel will be increased from 6 meters to 8 meters, achieving full tide navigation for 5000 ton ships, two-way navigation for 10000 ton ships with full load, and accommodating both tide navigation for 20000 ton ships and navigation for large unloaded ships downstream.

The project will meet the waterway guarantee demand of approximately 18.6 million TEUs per year, effectively diverting the pressure of the 12.5-meter deep water channel in the North Passage, and providing strong support for the development of container river sea intermodal transportation in Shanghai Xiaoyangshan North Operation Area and Luojing Port Area, reducing logistics costs for enterprises along the river.

Relieve the congestion from the south to the north

At present, nearly 280000 ships pass through the Yangtze River estuary annually, with a cargo volume of 1.7 billion tons, accounting for about 50% of the cargo volume of the Yangtze River trunk line. In the system of one main channel, two auxiliary channels, and one branch channel, the 12.5-meter deep water channel in the North Channel undertakes about 70% of the cargo volume and 30% of the ship flow, while the South Channel undertakes about 30% of the cargo volume but has to digest 70% of the ship flow, resulting in long-term high navigation pressure. It is expected that by 2035, the number of ships passing through the Yangtze River estuary will reach 294000, and the expansion of the southern channel capacity is very urgent.

The Yangtze River Estuary Waterway Management Bureau of the Ministry of Transport stated that it will implement the requirements of integrated integration, safety improvement, digital upgrading, and green transformation, and make every effort to create safe, innovative, green, and clean projects to ensure that the projects are completed and put into use on schedule.Editor/Cheng Liting