Splash247: Tianjin moves to unlock two-way 300,000 dwt access

Published by Splash247

Tianjin Port has started marine construction on a RMB1.254bn ($187m) widening and deepening programme aimed at removing a key navigation bottleneck for 300,000 dwt ships at northern China’s largest port.

Work kicked off on September 14 on the Xingang navigation channel, with the project covering two sections totalling 21.35 km north of the port’s Nanjiang area. Around 14.97m cu m of material will be dredged as part of the scheme.

The programme includes channel widening and deepening, slope works, upgrades to aids to navigation and improvements to intelligent traffic-management systems. Once completed, it will allow the main 300,000-tonne-class channel to support two-way traffic more effectively and ease restrictions on the movement of larger vessels.

China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment granted environmental approval in July to deepen sections of the channel to as much as 22 m, while widening the outer stretch to 397 m. The approved navigation standard is designed to accommodate bulkers of up to 300,000 dwt, with a 90% navigation guarantee rate.

The project is one of Tianjin’s key infrastructure schemes for 2026 and also forms part of China’s new five-year water transport development programme. Tianjin Port Group is the project developer.

The channel upgrade comes amid a broader buildout at Tianjin. Last month, the port cleared a key regulatory hurdle for the RMB1.48bn ($221m) Huisheng multipurpose terminal in Beijiang, comprising 100,000-tonne and 30,000-tonne berths with combined capacity of 6.55m tonnes a year. Other projects in the pipeline include China Energy’s second-phase bulk terminal and a second-phase smart container terminal at Dongjiang.

Tianjin handled 595m tonnes of cargo and 24.03m teu in 2025, ranking among the world’s largest ports by both measures.