Qingdao Port, the largest port in northern China, deployed the country's first vacuum-based automated mooring system on the first day of 2026, completing its unmanned operation for a single vessel within 30 seconds.
At 9 a.m. on Thursday, a container vessel measuring 366 meters in length and capable of carrying 16,000 TEUs slowly berthed at a quay equipped with the new mooring system. Unlike traditional berthing operations, no workers were required to secure mooring lines on site. Instead, the system automatically identified the vessel, positioned it, and used built-in vacuum suction pads to attach to the ship's hull. The entire mooring process took less than 30 seconds, firmly securing the vessel at the berth.
The vacuum-based automated mooring system not only enhances operational safety but also significantly boosts terminal efficiency.
"The vacuum-based automated mooring system attaches to the side of the vessel with suction pads. Thirteen mooring units can generate a combined holding force of 2,600 kilonewtons within 30 seconds. This shortens the mooring time for a single vessel from 20 to 30 minutes to under 30 seconds, firmly fixing the ship to the quay," said Liu Fangchao, Manager from the Engineering Technology Department of Qingdao Port Automated Terminal.
With its highly integrated automated system, comprising automated quay cranes, high-speed rail-mounted gantry cranes, and unmanned AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles), Qingdao Port has set a world record for container-handling efficiency at automated terminals for the 13th time.
In addition, local customs have introduced intelligent systems to further streamline the inspection process for smoother customs clearance.
"The pre-inspection scanning equipment is deployed along the port's logistics routes. Each scanning process takes only a few seconds and does not interfere with container transportation. Expanding high-level opening-up and building smart ports are key goals China aims to achieve over the next five years," said Yu Ting, Deputy Director of the Inspection Division of Huangdao Customs under Qingdao Customs.
Qingdao Port deploys China’s first vacuum-based automated mooring system
China, as Cambodia's most reliable strategic anchor, will continue to firmly support Cambodia in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, who is in China for the 11th Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
China stands ready to strengthen strategic communication with Cambodia, jointly meet external challenges and better promote each other's modernization drive, Wang said.
Wang called on both sides to make solid preparations for high-level exchanges in the next stage and safeguard the shared strategic interests of both countries, promote the development of the Industrial Development Corridor and the Fish and Rice Corridor and deepen pragmatic cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture and other fields.
Both sides should sustain a tough crackdown on telecom and online fraud and ensure such crimes never stage a comeback, Wang stressed, calling on both sides to step up coordination on multilateral platforms.
Prak Sokhonn said he appreciates China's invitation for the Cambodian and Thai foreign ministers to hold an informal tea talk, which embodies China's constructive position of settling dispute through peace and dialogue.
Hailing China's important role in the LMC, Prak Sokhonn said China is Cambodia's most trusted partner, adding that Cambodia reaffirms its commitment to the one-China principle, supports China's great cause of peaceful national reunification, and opposes "Taiwan independence" in any form.
Cambodia is willing to work with China to deliver on the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen alignment of development strategies between the two sides, keep up the crackdown on online gambling and telecom fraud crimes, and continuously elevate bilateral law enforcement and security cooperation, Prak Sokhonn said.
China backs Cambodia on development path suited to its national conditions: top diplomat
China backs Cambodia on development path suited to its national conditions: top diplomat
