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
Chinese scientists have established a new technology platform that reveals how genetic mutations in tumors reshape the microenvironment and modulate immune responses, a discovery that could explain why modern cancer treatments often fail in patients whose cancers have spread.
The study, published in the journal Cell on Thursday, was jointly conducted by a Shanghai-based team from the Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with teams from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Guangzhou Laboratory.
Using the new technology platform called CLIM-TIME (CRISPR-Laser-captured microdissection Integration Mapping of Tumor Immune Microenvironment), the researchers analyzed 391 common tumor suppressor genes to see how they reshape the tumor microenvironment — the biological neighborhood surrounding a tumor, and classified them into seven distinct subtypes.
The researchers found that the loss of certain tumor suppressor genes — genes that normally prevent cancer growth — triggers a massive buildup of collagen. This excess collagen makes the tumor structure so dense that it acts like a wall, preventing T cells — the body's natural "assassin" cells — from reaching and killing the cancer.
"It acts like a spider weaving a web. This web not only supports itself but also recruits and reshapes other normal cells from the body into accomplices that help shape this suppressive environment, blocking T cells' entry," said Wang Guangchuan, researcher at the Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science.
The team identified a specific molecule called LOXL2 as the architect of this barrier. In tests on mice, researchers found that by blocking LOXL2, they could dissolve the collagen wall. This allowed T cells to penetrate the tumor and significantly boosted the power of immunotherapy drugs.
We combined this with current CAR-T cell therapy. One major issue with CAR-T is that it can't enter solid tumors. When treating human tumors with CAR-T, if we use a small molecule to target this protein we've identified, it could significantly improve CAR-T treatment outcomes. Of course, when it comes to clinical application, we still need to evaluate its safety [and other indicators]," Wang said.
CAR-T is an immunotherapy involving the genetic engineering of a patient's T-cells to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Chinese scientists develop new technology to decode immunotherapy resistance in tumor microenvironment
