Challenges from pandemic

The port has faced certain challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The port's team of maritime pilots, who have to get on board to serve ships and to guarantee the safety of sailing and docking ports, have been working intensively while also minimizing contact with others and taking anti-epidemic precautions.

In addition, shipments of frozen foodstuffs are strictly inspected. A number of recent cases of COVID-19 at other port cities in China have been related to the handling of imported frozen foodstuffs.

The strict measures and rigorous precautions taken by Ningbo-Zhoushan Port Co Ltd have paid off, with no confirmed or suspected cases found so far among its around 30,000 employees.

Hong Yongwu, deputy general manager of Ningbo Beilun No 3 Container Terminal Co Ltd, which operates in the Chuanshan port area, said Ningbo-Zhoushan Port had resumed around 90 percent of its business by the end of March.

On March 29, President Xi Jinping visited the Chuanshan port area, and said that its resumption of operations was of great significance in encouraging enterprises across China to resume work and production, as well in terms of restoring the logistics system and the global industrial chains.

At the beginning of the century, Xi, who was then the Party secretary of Zhejiang, promoted the integration of Ningbo and Zhoushan's ports.

Ma Zhenhuan in Hangzhou contributed to this story.