At the 400,000-metric-ton ore terminal in Dongjiakou port area of Qingdao Port, belonging to Shandong Port Group, the last cargo was unloaded from the vessel Pacific Warrior on Dec 24. This marked the 27th time Qingdao Port had set a new world record for iron ore unloading efficiency, achieving a productivity of 3,167 tons per hour.

The vessel Pacific Warrior involved in this unloading operation is an international transshipment vessel measuring 361.9 meters in length and 65 meters in width, with a carrying capacity of 390,380 tons. It is the 421st 400,000-ton vessel to unload iron ore at the 400,000-ton ore terminal in Dongjiakou port area.

Qingdao Port carefully coordinated and planned the operation to expedite the unloading process and meet customer demands. With the support of various port departments, the port utilized advanced automation technologies throughout the entire process, such as leveraging the full potential of four of the world's largest ship unloaders and employing a digital operational platform. All these efforts led to optimized operational processes and precise decision-making, resulting in a new world record.

The 400,000-ton ore terminal in Dongjiakou port area was built in 2009 and was the world's first 400,000-ton terminal. In 2024, the annual processing volume of the 400,000-ton ore terminal at Dongjiakou port area exceeded 40 million tons for the first time at a single berth, with a historical cumulative total surpassing 400 million tons.

The ore carrier Pacific Warrior discharges iron ore at the Dongjiakou port area of Qingdao Port. [Photo/WeChat account: Xihaiannews]