Shanghai's Yangshan Deepwater Port is the world's largest automated container terminal. Its Phase-Four trial operation started on Sunday. What high-tech features does the port have and what impact will they bring to China's shipping industry? Mi Jiayi tells us more.  

Phase-Four of the Yangshan Port covers 2.23 million square meters and has a 2,350-meter shoreline. Completion of the development makes it now the world's biggest automated container port. On full operation, it will initially be able to handle 4 million twenty-foot equivalent units, which will expand later to 6.3 million standard-sized containers.

The project uses automated handling equipment designed and manufactured in China. That includes all equipment used in loading and unloading -- a bridge crane, an automated guided vehicle and a rail-mounted gantry crane. The technology running the systems was also developed in China. The operator of the port says the unmanned terminal will reduce labor costs by 70 percent, while increasing productivity by 30 percent.

LIU CHANGMAN, GENERAL MANAGER SHANGDONG CONTAINER TERMINAL BRANCH, SIPG "In the past, everything had to be done by workers. Now that these manual jobs have been automated, the level of efficiency is much more stable. Also the computer designs the routes to move the containers, and these will be the shortest routes with as little shifting of other containers as possible."

Liu says that since all the terminals are powered electrically, the facility will have zero emissions. One industry expert says the development will help consolidate Shanghai port's standing as the world's busiest container port and further support Shanghai's efforts to become a world shipping center.

DING LI, SECRETARY GENERAL CHINA PORTS & HARBOURS ASSOCIATION "There are many varied technologies used in constructing the automated cargo port, and every single one of them can be helpful to upgrade other ports in China, even for those that are not suitable for complete automation. Also as the technology matures, our design and construction of ports can be like our design and manufacturing of high-speed railways. They can be a name card for made-in-China of our transportation system."

As of yesterday, the automated port's first heavy equipment including 10 bridge cranes, 40 rail-mounted gantry cranes and 50 automated vehicles, have been tested and put into trial operation. In the future, the full port will be equipped with 26 bridge cranes, 120 rail-mounted gantry cranes and 130 automated vehicles.