In 2024, the Taicang Pilot Station and Taicang Pilot Base of the Yangtze River Pilot Center focused on on their core mission of pilotage services, actively supporting No. 1 project" of Taicang Port development. They earnestly implemented the new “Eight Service Commitments” of the Yangtze River Pilots, contributing to Taicang’s foreign trade economy and port growth.
1. Making strong moves in “Transparent Pilotage”
Adhering to fairness, justice, and transparency, the station achieved a 100% acceptance rate for pilotage applications, 100% on-time sailing rate, and 100% accurate fee collection for vessels entering and leaving Taicang Port throughout the year. In 2024, the Taicang Pilot Station piloted 8,657 vessels, both domestic and international, a slight increase from the previous year, with a total gross tonnage of 250 million tons, reflecting a 7.1% year-on-year growth. Meanwhile, the Taicang Pilot Base ensured 45,000 vessel handovers, dispatched 17,000 pilot support vehicles between Shanghai and Taicang, and provided 53,000 overnight stays at the base, marking year-on-year increases of 0.4%, 7.4%, and 3.9%, respectively.
2. Making strong moves in "Standardized Pilotage"
The station performed its pilotage duties in accordance with the law and regulations, strictly enforcing the Yangtze River Pilotage Center Service Standards and the Standard for Tugboat Allocation for Berthing, Unberthing, Pilotage, and Mooring Auxiliary Operations on the Yangtze River Trunk Line Vessels. A total of 38 port and shipping enterprises, were invited to gather opinions, jointly address key challenges in safety and production, and foster an improved business environment for the port.
3. Making strong moves in “Safe Pilotage”
The station strengthened collaborative safety prevention and control mechanisms through initiatives such as “Pilotage + Maritime Affairs,” “Pilotage + Waterways,” and “Pilotage + Enterprises.” Focusing on compliance and operational standardization, the station maintained a zero accident record for pilotage-related safety incidents throughout the year. The station effectively responded to Typhoon Bebinca, the strongest typhoon to hit Taicang since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, ensuring the safe mooring of 32 foreign vessels at Taicang Port. The station also took active steps to respond to the challenges posed by extreme summer heat to ensure the smooth conduct pilotage operations.
4. Making strong moves in “Convenient Pilotage”
The station opened a green pilotage channel for vessels transporting essential goods for our country's development and the people's wellbeing, resulting in priority services for 267 coal transport vessels carrying 10.38 million tons of thermal coal, ensuring stable coal supply to over 20 power plants along the Yangtze River. Given the high volume of container vessels, frequent night operations, and rapid turnover, and frequent night operations at Taicang port, the station established fast-track pilotage channels to promote direct arrivals and departures, which actively promoted direct berthing and unberthing and significantly supported Suzhou Port’s container throughput to surpass 10 million TEUs for the first time . It demonstrated Taicang’s sense of responsibility. The Taicang Pilot Base also leveraged its cooperation with the Shanghai Yangqiao Inspection Station to facilitate the swift entry of hazardous cargo vehicles into Shanghai, addressing a key logistics bottleneck.
5. Making strong moves in “Precision Pilotage”
The station implemented “one ship, one plan; one enterprise, one plan” strategies, aiding the cultivation and the development of new quality productive forces. Throughout the year, the station piloted 439 Ro-Ro vessels, a 24.7% increase year-on-year, providing crucial support for the export of Taicang Port’s "New Three" products. The station also ensured the safe dispatch of over 160 pieces of port equipment from Taicang Port, supporting the opening of Peru’s Chancay Port. To optimize deepwater navigation in the Yangtze River, the station facilitated the first 12.3-meter draft vessel berthing at Taicang Meijin Terminal, successfully piloting 155 such vessels throughout the year, marking a 48.2% increase from the previous year. The station also supported Taicang in building a 10-billion-yuan seafood trading hub, the team overcame challenges such as language barriers and night navigation restrictions for fresh seafood carriers. By leveraging the synergy between the pilot station and pilot base, the station pre-coordinated and implemented special dispatch measures, ensuring the safe and timely entry and departure of 16 fresh seafood vessels throughout the year.
6. Vigorously promoted the “Innovation-Driven Pilotage” initiative.
Through capitalizing on the professional and technical prowess in pilotage, we enabled enterprises to foster new competitive edges and unleash new impetus for development. During a single tidal period, we successfully guided three ultra-large roll-on/roll-off ships to berth at Haitong Wharf, playing a pivotal role in the inauguration of Haitong Taicang Automobile Terminal. The 328-meter-long vessel “Sixth Mocha” was safely guided to berth at Taicang, Wugang Wharf, shattering three records in the dimensions, tonnage, and cargo - carrying capacity of piloted operating bulk carriers. In the whole year, a total of 176 large timber ships were piloted, registering a remarkable 46.7% growth compared to the previous year. We also piloted the high-value-added and new-generation green ship “Jiaxin America” and 10 newly-built ultra-large container ships, each stretching 366 meters in length, out of the Yangtze River. This significant effort has not only enhanced the global presence of “Made in China” shipping products but also contributed substantially to the expansion of their overseas market share. Furthermore, we effectively spurred the Taicang Port Working Committee and the Party Committee of the Yangtze River Pilotage Center to initiate and establish the “Pooling Wisdom in the River and Sea, Empowering through Pilotage” Party Building Alliance in Taicang. This alliance has served as a drive force to inject robust momentum into the extension, supplementation, and reinforcement of the industrial chain.
7. Vigorously implement the “Brand-Driven Pilotage”.
Deeply summarize and refine the characteristic culture of Taicang Pilot Station, and carry out the construction of the “Lift Anchor” cultural brand, gradually forming a “141” cultural system. That is, one core cultural concept - “Pilot through Taicang, Sail to a Full Warehouse”, four sub - brands, the “Pioneers of the River and Sea” excellent Party - building brand; the “Clear River and Sea” incorruptible government culture brand; the “Craftsmen of the River and Sea” safety culture brand; the “Spring Tides of the River and Sea” youth culture brand. And one spirit - the “Little Millet Grain” spirit of Taicang. Jointly carry out the “Five Ones” cultural activities. Taicang Pilot Station was rated as the “National Outstanding Unit in Transportation Service Culture Construction”, and its work achievements have drawn the attention of media such as People's Daily, CCTV, Xinhua News Agency, and China News Service. Promote the cooperation and co-construction between Liuhe Town and Shanghai Maritime University, award the plaque of a student internship base, expand the influence of agriculture, culture, and tourism, and attract shipping students to Taicang to explore the cultural roots of a strong shipping nation.
8. Vigorously implement the “Integrity-Driven Pilotage”.
Deeply root the concept of the high-voltage line of work style, conduct supervision and inspection of the pilotage work style in the "four forbidden; two straight" way (no notice; no greeting; no report; no companion; go straight to the grassroots level and go straight to the scene), and regularly carry out pilotage service return visits and customer satisfaction surveys. Hire supervisors from outside, hold regular supervisor meetings, listen to opinions and suggestions, and actively accept supervision, achieving zero complaints about services and zero reports on work-style issues throughout the year.
The relevant person in charge of the Taicang Pilot Station said that in 2025, the Taicang Pilot Station of the Yangtze River Pilotage Center and the Taicang Pilotage Base will wholeheartedly serve the implementation of Taicang's “No.1 Project”, and make new contributions to the efforts of writing a new chapter of Taicang in Chinese path to modernization !
Reprinted from: China Communications News Network