Chongqing - On June 13, demonstrating enhanced transport capabilities, the Port of Chongqing accomplished an impressive feat by hoisting a hefty 296-ton transformer manufactured by industry giant ABB Chongqing at Guoyuan heavy cargo wharf.
In a remarkably short timeframe of just 20 minutes, the transformer was moved to a freighter docked on the Yangtze River. The transformer is destined for Shenzhen, which will be integral to the city’s escalating power demands.
This accomplishment heralds the inaugural operation of a bridge crane explicitly crafted for heavy cargo in Western China’s Chongqing municipality, significantly boosting the city’s manufacturing industry.
A transformer weighting 296 tons is lifted at Guoyuan Port of Chongqing Liangjiang New Area. (Photo/Ran Yulin)
New Bridge Crane Augments Lifting Port Capabilities
The construction of the Guoyuan heavy cargo wharf, an investment of 897 million yuan (approximately 125 million U.S. dollars), was finalized in January. With its ability to lift cargo weighing up to 1,000 tons, the wharf has become the largest of its kind in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. It benefits large equipment enterprises in Chongqing and western regions, providing a new transit depot for their products.
The Port of Chongqing has served numerous enterprises, including ABB, China National Erzhong Group Co., and Dongfang Electric Corporation. The cargo wharf has managed loads of 180 tons and 400 tons since the 1960s, facilitating the delivery of over 50,000 heavy products.
Zhou Ronghua, the Executive Director of Chongqing Guoyuan Cargo Wharf Co., Ltd., noted, “With the rapid growth of the manufacturing industry, the previous carrying capacity of 400 tons proved inadequate for handling large and heavy equipment.” To cater to this demand, a new bridge crane capable of lifting 1,000 tons of equipment has been installed, significantly bolstering the lifting capacity of the Port of Chongqing.
Driving Clean Energy Transformation
ABB Chongqing is among the first beneficiaries of this development. Its intelligent manufacturing base in the Chongqing Liangjiang New Area was completed in March, boasting an annual production capacity exceeding 50,000 megawatts. The base is poised to become the world’s most advanced transformer manufacturing hub, a global transformer design center, and an insulation component processing center.
Huang Jianhua, the General Manager of ABB Chongqing, expressed his satisfaction with the operation of the Guoyuan heavy cargo wharf. He emphasized how it meets their logistics needs and further promotes clean energy transformation within the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle and nationwide.
Beyond its capacity for handling large-scale transformers, the wharf smoothly manages cargo ranging from large gears and wind power equipment to bridge components and heavy-duty vehicles. These capabilities significantly contribute to the development of Chongqing’s manufacturing industry.
Water transportation plays a vital role in Chongqing’s economic development. Currently, Chongqing boasts an extensive navigable waterway network spanning 4,472 kilometers. The port’s cargo throughput capacity has surpassed 200 million tons, with its container throughput capacity reaching 4 million TEUs.
With the launch of the heavy cargo wharf, the heavy-duty equipment industry in Chongqing now enjoys safer, more efficient, and more convenient logistics services. This development plays a pivotal role in supporting the strategic growth of Chongqing as a whole.