Global shipping giants launch giant vessel, fast routes from Shanghai’s port

Launching giant container ship and high-frequency direct routes, global shipping giants are taking concrete actions to fully make use of the advanced Shanghai Port's hub function.

The world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel container ship, the CMA CGM Notre Dame, departed from Shanghai Yangshan Port on its maiden voyage on Sunday, serving the China-Europe route.

The giant vessel measures 400 meters in length and has a full load capacity up to 24,000 twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEUs).

This time, it was loaded with 9,350 TEUs at Yangshan Port, carrying Chinese-made electric vehicles and energy storage cabinets to Europe.

"The route served by the CMA CGM Notre Dame is an important passage connecting China and Europe. Shanghai Port plays a key hub role on this route," said Gu Haoyu, Chief Operating Officer of CMA CGM China.

The U.S. West Coast service of China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited also made its maiden voyage from Yangshan Port on last Thursday.

China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited has launched 14 new direct routes from the Far East to the U.S. West Coast, offering the fastest delivery service from Shanghai to Seattle in 18 days.

The maiden voyage vessel, the Xin Shantou, loaded with 1,336 TEUs, is heading to North America.

As global shipping giants including COSCO Shipping and CMA CGM continue to call at Shanghai with ultra-large vessels, the Yangshan Port has become one of the world's most route-intensive and efficient core hubs.

"From January to April, Shanghai Port handled a total of 18.959 million TEUs, a year-on-year increase of 7 percent. CMA CGM handled 1.685 million TEUs at Shanghai Port, up 12.9 percent year on year. This fully demonstrates that CMA CGM highly recognizes Shanghai Port's hub function," said Yang Yanbin, Deputy General Manager of the Production and Business Department of Shanghai International Port (Group) Co., Ltd.

Global shipping giants launch giant vessel, fast routes from Shanghai’s port

Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasized advancing agricultural modernization and ensuring food security when making investigation in northeast China's Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces from Monday to Wednesday.

In Heilongjiang Province, Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visited a state farm and observed the growth of soybean, corn, and rice crops. He stressed that autumn grain accounts for the bulk of annual output, calling for stepped-up farmland management and policy support to ensure grain harvest.

Visiting an agricultural science park and a rice research institute, Li asked about seed breeding innovation and black soil conservation, highlighting the importance of science and technology in pursuing higher yields and calling for further efforts in seed breeding, advanced machinery, and smart farming.

At a major water conservancy project, Li reviewed construction progress, urging faster completion to improve flood control, irrigation, and ecological benefits while supporting stable, high-yield harvests.

In Jilin Province, Li visited an agricultural cooperative and learned about its operations. He called for developing diverse forms of appropriately scaled agricultural operations and improving services for agriculture to help smallholders connect with modern agriculture.

At a grain processing plant, Li inspected a corn oil production line and called for boosting intensive processing of agricultural products to extend industrial chains and raise value.

Li also visited the Chagan Lake and learned about the ecological fisheries. He called for actively developing modern eco-aquaculture, promoting integrated development of the farming, forestry, livestock, and fishing industries as well as the development of eco-tourism.

Chinese premier stresses agricultural modernization, food security