The shipping platform

Location: Beihai is located on the NE shore of the Gulf of Tonkin about 60nm from the China/Vietnam border and is a main international trading port of South West China. General overview: Beihai is a major commercial and transhipment port which consists of the areas: Haijiao, Shibuling, Tieshan, Dafengjiang and Weizhou Island (see separate entry). Shibuling port area is the main area for handling foreign trade and transhipment, including containers and chemicals. Tieshan is for large scale port construction at Guangxi. Imports: Fertilisers, grains, sugar, steel products, crude oil, natural gas, sulphuric acid, coal, metal ores, timber and finished products. Exports: Ores, aluminium, manganese, timber, phosphoric acid. Traffic figures: Aprox 5,666,000t of cargo, 33,900TEU and 1,058,000 passengers annually. Load line zone: China Sea Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Jan 21 to Apr 30, Summer May 1 to Jan 20. Max size: Shibuling: Max draught 10.8m (HW), LOA 230m (iron ore 241m), beam 35m.