Ships pass Three Gorges ship lift reaches 30,000 milestone
2024-12-21 18:12:38
By Yan Wanqin. Liu Yue, Zhang Yinting also contributed to this article.
As of December 18, 30,000 ships have passed through the Three Gorges ship lift since its debut in 2016. The Three Gorges Navigation Authority reports these vessels have transported 18.6 million tonnes of cargo and carried 1.56 million passengers.
The ship lift began trial operations on September 18, 2016, and has formed a joint navigation pass with the Three Gorges locks. This setup allows large ships to "climb the stairs," while smaller vessels can "take the elevator," illustratingthe two lifting methods at the Three Gorges hub.
As of December 18, 30,000 ships have passed through the Three Gorges ship lift since its debut in 2016. The Three Gorges Navigation Authority reports these vessels have transported 18.6 million tonnes of cargo and carried 1.56 million passengers.
The ship lift began trial operations on September 18, 2016, and has formed a joint navigation pass with the Three Gorges locks. This setup allows large ships to "climb the stairs," while smaller vessels can "take the elevator," illustratingthe two lifting methods at the Three Gorges hub.
A cruise ship passes by the Three Gorges ship lift. Photo by Chen Lulu.
The Three Gorges Navigation Authority has implemented new technologies over the years to enhance safety and efficiency.
The average crossing time for ships has been reduced to about 50 minutes, down from 75 minutes. Equipment downtime has decreased to less than 0.1 percent, a significant drop fromthe initial 11 percent during trial operations.
Additionally, the unique experience of "rising 113 meters over the rift valley in 50 minutes" has drawn tourists from around the globe, adding to the allure of this remarkable engineering achievement.
