A Marshall Islands-registered ship that is loaded with 168 wind turbine blades leaves Haimen district, Nantong for the United States on Aug 10. [Photo/Haimen Daily]

A cargo ship carrying 168 wind turbine blades left Dongzao Port in Haimen district, Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province for the United States on Aug 10.

The blades, each measuring about 54 meters long, were produced by the Haimen-based Aeolon Wind Energy Technology Co. They are worth $12.65 million in total.

It was the first time that the port received a ship with a loading capacity exceeding 120,000 cubic meters since it introduced shipping services for exported wind turbine blades, according to Lu Feng, an executive of the port.

Workers load wind turbine blades onto a Marshall Islands-registered ship at Dongzao Port in Haimen district, Nantong. [Photo/Haimen Daily]

Dongzao Port was approved to be a national category-1 port in 2014. It has received 36 foreign ships and exported 1,279 wind turbine blades since the beginning of this year.

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic across the globe, the local authority has implemented strict epidemic prevention and control measures to ensure the safety of crew and port workers.