The Ministry of Transport said that in the modernization process, major ports and waterways will become smarter by 2027, with plans to include drones and ships on unmanned patrol routes.
China has been pinning its hopes on digital technologies to modernize its waterway transport system, aiming to improve its competitiveness in the shipping sector by improving efficiency and sustainability.
A plan unveiled by the Ministry of Transport on its ** earlier this month aims to implement smart technologies such as 5G, big data and artificial intelligence in all major ports and waterways by 2027.
To make China's ports smarter, the ministry said it would urge container terminals to further automate workflows by expanding the use of technologies such as self-driving cars, driverless container trucks and remote-controlled infrastructure.
The authorities are also working to build a digital network for China's higher-quality inland waterways and terminals at major coastal ports such as Shanghai, Dalian and Tianjin. The ministry said it would encourage the use of smart technology in maintenance and transportation operations. For example, drones and unmanned vessels can patrol waterways, while GIS and the Internet of Things can help digitize docks and waterways.
Ports and waterways will be developed with more new energy sources and equipment.
Compared to roads and railways, waterway transport is less costly, less polluting, less traffic, and safer," said Dong Yang, an associate professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, who specializes in shipping and logistics.
That's why China has been working hard to develop it for years, and using AI to improve decision-making is a necessary step forward.
China is increasingly turning to advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence to improve the efficiency of various industries such as semiconductors, and it is under pressure to transition to a more value-oriented chain amid competition from developing countries such as Mexico and India. Over the past few decades, the use of a vast network of waterways has helped its economic growth, leading to the emergence of powerful regions such as the Yangtze River and the Pearl River Delta.
Beijing's push to optimize its water transport system has also helped reduce its reliance on roads, which accounted for nearly three-quarters of the country's freight traffic last year, compared to 169%。According to the International Transport Forum, road freight emissions are 100 times higher than water transport for the same amount of cargo and distance traveled.
The use of smart technology is now a trend in the shipping industry as it can further improve the efficiency of waterway transport and make it more environmentally friendly," said Yang, who studies the evolution of the port ecosystem. Since the Ministry of Transport released the 14th Five-Year Plan for Water Transport in 2019, China has paid more attention to the development of water transport, which emphasizes digitalization and sustainability.
According to the ministry, over the past three years, the national investment in fixed assets (FAI) has grown by an average of 125%。
In the first 10 months of this year, the total investment in fixed assets in China's road and waterway transport network was 257 trillion yuan (US$361.4 billion), up 41%。According to official data, fixed asset investment in highways increased by 2 percent year-on-year9%, while fixed asset investment in waterways increased by 25% year-on-year8%。