Zhoukou Port in Henan Province opens its first automated container terminal, enhancing capacity and efficiency in inland waterway logistics.
Henan Province has officially launched its first dedicated container terminal at Zhoukou Port, as reported by Chicago's PR Newswire.
The Central Operating Area of Zhoukou Port's Central Port Zone commenced operations on December 24, boasting an annual handling capacity of one million TEU. The facility is equipped with twelve automated cranes and an integrated automation system developed by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co Ltd (ZPMC).
This project is part of Henan's '11246' inland waterway initiative and features 13 berths designed for 2,000-ton vessels. With a designed throughput of 1.075 million TEU, Zhoukou is set to become a multimodal hub connecting central and western China with the Yangtze River Delta.
ZPMC has supplied six ship-to-shore cranes and six rail-mounted gantry cranes specifically adapted for inland waterways. The STS cranes are designed to be lightweight, while the RMG cranes incorporate an '8-rope 2.0' anti-sway system, achieving 120-second cycle times.
The automation system integrates management and control software across vessel, yard, and transport operations, replacing labor-intensive workflows with real-time digital coordination.
Productivity of the STS cranes is anticipated to increase by 30 percent, with each crane capable of handling 120,000 TEU annually. Officials have stated that this project serves as a scalable model for modernizing inland port operations throughout China.
