Yantai Port launches new sea-rail intermodal route linking Shenmu, Longkou and Taishan to reinforce national coal supply chain

A bulk carrier MV Guojia Nengyuan 606 has loaded more than 60,000 tonnes of China Energy coal unloaded from dedicated freight trains and set sail for Taishan Port. This voyage marks the official launch of a brand-new sea-rail intermodal transport corridor connecting Shenmu, Longkou and Taishan operated by Shandong Port Group Yantai Port, adding another vital link to the nationwide coal transportation network for west-to-east and north-to-south coal shipments.

Temperatures are climbing steadily across the country, and the critical period for securing power supply in the upcoming summer peak electricity consumption season is drawing near. Serving as a pivotal node within the national coal logistics layout, Yantai Port has coordinated closely with railway and energy stakeholders to roll out an integrated coal supply chain solution covering production, transportation, stockpiling, supply and sales links in full. The port has recorded robust growth in outbound shipments of China Energy coal in the first five months of the year via the Huangda-Shuohuang and Delongyan railway lines, with a year-on-year surge of 82%. Its delivery network now extends to over 50 power plants distributed across more than 30 urban and municipal areas, delivering reliable and streamlined logistics support for summer energy security.

Leveraging the Shuohuang and Delongyan trunk railways alongside its favourable coastal geographical position, Yantai Port has put multiple intermodal shipping routes into operation in recent years, with destinations including Jiangyin, Zhuhai and Tongling. A one-stop supply chain system has taken shape, covering coal mining in energy bases spanning Shanxi, Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia, rail concentration to the port, transshipment at Yantai Port, unloading at destination coastal ports and final delivery to power plants in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta power load centres.

While maintaining stable operation of existing transport routes, Yantai Port has deepened coordination with China Energy Investment Corporation and pioneered a dedicated transport model featuring exclusive trains, dedicated vessels and fixed shipping lines. MV Shenhua 561 maintains regular services on the Yantai-Ningbo route, and MV Guojia Nengyuan 606 is assigned to the Longkou-Taishan route, enabling fixed sailing schedules and precise alignment between vessel capacity and cargo volume.

Longkou Port Area has maintained close communication with port supervision authorities to tackle challenges including concentrated vessel arrivals and constrained berth resources. Berth No.25 has been designated exclusively for berthing vessels carrying China Energy coal to guarantee prompt and safe docking. All operational departments at the port work in synergy to streamline the whole workflow from rail wagon unloading to ship loading. The daily rail coal unloading capacity has been lifted to seven to eight full trains, sustaining uninterrupted coal stock at the waterfront berths and enabling high-quality and efficient loading operations for every outbound vessel.

The newly opened intermodal corridor and refined dedicated transport mechanism will further raise the flexibility and resilience of northern China’s coal outbound logistics system, sustaining steady fuel supply for power generation facilities in southern coastal regions throughout the summer peak demand period.