The first ship to set sail from the new ICT facility in Hai'an carries a dozen containers. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

The first cargo ship set sail this year from the new inland container terminal in Fengshan Port – on an inland canal in Hai'an city, Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province – on April 26.

The facility, also known as the ICT project, was launched by the Shanghai International Port (Group) Co Ltd, or SIPG in September last year.

It is said to have achieved efficient interconnections and sharing of logistics services between Hai'an and Shanghai, greatly reducing logistics costs for manufacturing and foreign trade enterprises in central and northern Jiangsu.

SIPG moved its port logistics services to Fengshan Port through the ICT. Containers processed there have their particulars directly inputted into the information management service platform of SIPG, so they can efficiently be transported to Shanghai Port by water.

"The first voyage of the ICT project this year carried 12 containers loaded with sanitary products, textiles products and mechanical equipment produced by Hai'an's local companies, weighing 200 metric tons," said Lyu Bin, deputy general manager of the Jiangsu Hai'an Trading Logistics Group.

"We will increase the operational frequency of cargo ships in due time in response to the epidemic situation, to ensure smooth export channels for Hai'an's foreign trade firms," Lyu added.