The Gezhouba shipping expansion project, part of the Three Gorges water transport new channel initiative, has reached a significant milestone. As of mid-August, 12 of the 24 newly added mooring dolphins have been put into operation, providing crucial support for enhancing the navigation capacity of the Gezhouba hub.

These new "water parking spaces" are a core component of the preliminary phase of the Gezhouba shipping expansion. The project, which focuses on expanding the mooring facilities for the Gezhouba No.1 and No.2 ship locks, plans to add 24 mooring dolphins in total. These are strategically distributed across the upstream section of the No.1 lock and the upstream and downstream berthing areas and navigation extension sections of the No.2 lock. The 12 currently operational dolphins can simultaneously offer safe and orderly temporary berthing points for multiple vessels.

To minimize the impact of construction on waterway operations, the project team constructed a dedicated steel trestle bridge over the river, creating an independent passage for offshore work. In close coordination with navigation management authorities, they dynamically adjusted working schedules based on ship lock operations and organized staggered offshore construction. A 50-meter safety distance has been established between vessel navigation zones and construction areas, with corresponding risk prevention measures implemented. Throughout the construction period, the Gezhouba ship locks have maintained normal navigation without adverse effects, ensuring that engineering progress and navigation support proceed in tandem.

A ship captain with over 20 years of experience on the Yangtze River praised the new facilities, noting that the neatly aligned white mooring dolphins allow vessels to dock in an orderly manner according to signage. "The improved order gives us more peace of mind when navigating," he said, appreciating the enhanced safety and organization.

The remaining 12 mooring dolphins are currently under construction and progressing steadily as planned. Once all 24 are fully operational, the turnover efficiency of Gezhouba's navigation is expected to increase by nearly 30%.