Nanjing Customs has introduced a new intelligent supervision model that leverages advanced technology to streamline cargo inspections and enhance efficiency, particularly in challenging conditions.

In Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, persistent rainfall had previously complicated the inspection of imported iron ore. Traditional methods required manual on-site work, but heavy rain often altered the ore pile's stability, creating safety hazards. At the 400,000-tonne iron ore terminal in Lianyungang, the local customs authority, under Nanjing Customs, tackled this issue by integrating smart detection devices, intelligent model algorithms, and an integrated application platform. This system combines five regulatory functions—solid waste screening, impurity detection, radiation monitoring, sampling, and draft survey—into the unloading process, replacing manual labor with machinery and human judgment with computing power.

"With this intelligent equipment, we can remotely inspect cargo even in the rain, and our imported iron ore can be cleared quickly after unloading," said Xing Yong, customs manager at Lianyungang Xinsugang Terminal Co., Ltd. Thanks to the application of the smart iron ore supervision scenario, the terminal's turnaround efficiency has significantly improved.

As part of the push for "smart customs," Nanjing Customs is extensively applying AI technology in port inspections and bulk commodity supervision, building a multi-dimensional intelligent oversight matrix. This ensures strict control while enabling swift clearance.

At the Zhangjiagang Yongjia Terminal for imported timber, customs officers used the "AI Wood Identification" system to assist in inspections. The process—from sanding and photographing to uploading for identification—takes just minutes. To tackle the challenges of diverse imported timber species and complex quarantine risks, Zhangjiagang Customs developed the "AI Wood Identification" system. Officers sand a cross-section of the wood, take a photo, and upload it, allowing the system to accurately identify the species in seconds.

"This system can recognize 145 types of wood, over 250 weed seeds, and more than 80 insect species, cutting prompt inspection time to about 10 minutes, significantly improving both speed and accuracy," said Ding Zhiping, a customs officer at Zhangjiagang Customs.

Nanjing Customs is now advancing the "smart customs" initiative by embedding AI technology into the final stages of regulatory services, accelerating the deployment of various AI-powered innovation scenarios. This adds greater intelligence to national security and trade facilitation efforts.