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Previously known as Nansha Phase 2, Guangzhou South China Oceangate Container Terminal has a total quay length of 2,100 m across six container berths and a capacity of 4.2m teu. Construction began in December 2004, with the first two berths going into service in December 2006. The berths have a draught of 15.5 m alongside and the same depth in the approach channel.
Covering a total area of 223 ha, the terminal is equipped with ship-to-shore cranes with a reach of 23 containers across, and has 4,968 reefer plugs. There are 12 inbound gates for truck access and six outbound (which can be expanded to 12 outbound if needed). Security is provided by CCTV systems and an auto-gate system using radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology.
The terminal has also installed an advanced sanitation system that eliminates water pollution, and in June 2007 began the process of applying to the WHO for Sanitary Port Status, one of three pioneering ports in mainland China to do so.
The Port of Guangzhou is the most important port in southern China, servicing the booming trade of the Pearl River Delta. Its total cargo throughput in 2006 was 300m tonnes, ranking it third in China and fifth in the world. Its container throughput in 2006 was 6.6m teu, ranking it fifth in China and 15th in the world.
APM Terminals has been investing in China since 1994 and today has a wide coverage in the Greater China area, with ports at Dalian, Tianjin and Qingdao in the north, Shanghai and Xiamen in the east, and Guangzhou and Shenzhen in the south. It also has two terminals at Kaohsiung in Taiwan.
Richard Nicholson, APM Terminals’ vice president for the Greater China area, said during the opening ceremony: “Our vision in the South China market is to invest in terminal capacity so our customers can grow with the trade, achieve better profitability and attain the speed, service and flexibility they need to compete and win in world markets. Guangzhou’s remarkable economic growth makes this an exciting time for all of us living and working here.”