THE Chinese ports of Yantai in Shandong province, Zhenjiang port in Jiangsu province and ports in Fangcheng, Beihai and Qinzhou in Guangxi province have announced plans to invest heavily in port development until at least 2010.

Yantai port authorities reported a further CNY400 million (US$48 million) will be invested in the construction of phase three of the facility to dramatically increase the port's handling capacity to cope with an anticipated rise in cargo volumes.

Container throughput at the port is expected to rise to 1.5 million TEU annually by 2010. At present, Yantai's yearly port capacity is 240,000 TEU.

The funds will be invested in the construction of two berths which can accomodate vessels weighing up to 70,000 tons. The new berths will have a combined annual container handling capacity of 600,000 TEU.

Meanwhile, Zhenjiang port authorities will invest CNY1 billion to develop phase three of their port area, which occupies an area measuring 2,300 acres and has a total quay length of 1,770 metres. Four berths will be constructed to accommodate vessels ranging from 30,000 tons to 70,000 tons. The berths will together be able to handle 14.6 million tons of cargo annually.

Phase three is scheduled for completion in November 2006, but the first new 50,000 ton berth is expected to become operational in September 2005.

Zhenjiang port currently has 139 berths which can accomodate vessels weighing up to 50,000 tons.

Over in Guangxi province authorities also have designs on speeding up the development of ports in Fangcheng, Beihai and Qinzhou, reported the Xinhua News Agency.

Four 50,000 ton berths are currently under construction at Fangcheng. The port also plans to build another berth with a handling capacity of 100,000 tons.

Meanwhile, Beihai is constructing four 10,000 ton berths and also plans to build more terminals, while Qinzhou is building two 10,000 ton berths. Qinzhou intends to construct three 50,000 ton berths and deepen the seabed to accomodate vessels weighing up to 100,000 tons.