By love-89.com Recently, the Marshall Islands-registered bulk carrier “Star” successfully completed the unloading of 32,000 tons of soybeans at the Laotangshan Phase III terminal in Ningbo Zhoushan Port. This achievement marks a significant milestone, as it brings the total cargo volume of grain handled by Zhoushan Port Co., Ltd. to over 100 million tons since the substantive integration of Ningbo Zhoushan Port began in 2015.
The record-breaking grain handling volume can be largely attributed to the collaborative efforts to expedite customs clearance for foreign vessels. Starting in August of this year, Zhoushan’s border inspection, customs, and maritime departments began implementing simultaneous onboard inspections, which reduced clearance time from half a day or one day to just 40 minutes.
Behind this transformation lies a dedicated initiative led by the Party to ensure grain security across the nation. In 2024, over 40 relevant organizations, including the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Grain and Material Reserves, the State-owned Grain Reserve Corporation’s Zhejiang branch, and local government bodies, will integrate Party-building efforts throughout the entire grain supply chain, encompassing production, purchasing, storage, processing, transportation, and sales.
As a core designated port for imported grain in China, Zhoushan’s grain transshipment logistics reached 27.8 million tons in 2023, accounting for more than 17% of the national total. However, this massive volume occasionally creates mismatches between production plans and the entry of new grain into storage. For instance, Zhoushan Lianghai Grain and Oil Co., Ltd. has faced situations this year where incoming foreign vessels had to wait for storage space.
It’s worth noting that the daily port delay charges for foreign vessels can exceed 100,000 yuan. Coupled with penalties for delayed deliveries to storage units, this often results in substantial losses for companies, ranging from hundreds of thousands to over a million yuan.
Wu Jianhua, the Party branch secretary and deputy general manager of Zhoushan Lianghai Grain and Oil Co., shared a vivid memory of a critical moment when 29,000 tons of grain urgently needed to be unloaded. Thanks to the coordination of the Joint Party Committee for Grain Security in the Zhoushan industry chain, Zhejiang Provincial Grain Reserve Group’s Zhoushan Grain Depot was able to expedite its operations to alleviate the crisis.
“Now, whenever a vessel arrives, customs and the terminal staff are informed, and everyone works together to ensure the smooth storage of its cargo. It’s like acting as one big family,” Wu remarked.
This sense of collaboration was also evident in the joint efforts of the Zhoushan Grain Depot during a recent typhoon threat. “The storm almost blew open the doors of our warehouse holding over 10,000 tons of grain. All 50 of our staff were mobilized. We found confidence in knowing that government departments and fellow companies would also be there to help us hold the doors shut,” recalled Shen Bo, the depot’s Party branch secretary and director.
The effective cross-departmental cooperation stems from a strategic approach to Party-building that understands the importance of unity. On one side, functional Party branches have been established in key areas such as customs, grain reserves, processing, and supply assurance. On the other, these branches regularly hold meetings to foster communication, discuss pressing issues, and collaboratively resolve challenges.
For example, during grain transfer operations involving dust safety issues, the warehouse quickly communicates with the terminal. Local emergency teams comprising around 100 members have been organized to address crises such as typhoons and fires. Additionally, improved cost-saving measures through knowledge-sharing with partner companies have resulted in annual savings of millions for some firms.
This year, Zhejiang has set a goal to strengthen the construction of its “Three Teams,” emphasizing skill development and mentorship within the context of Party-led initiatives in the grain industry. In March, six doctoral researchers from the China Grain Research and Training Center visited Zhoushan to discuss talent cultivation, management, and future development with representatives from the grain and oil industry.
So far in 2023, the Party-building effort within the grain security supply chain in Zhoushan has led to 23 specialized discussions on innovative cross-border trade services, over 10 skills training sessions, and the resolution of more than 60 equipment improvement challenges for bulk grain transport, resulting in handling 17.05 million tons of grain, which constitutes 20% of the national total.
Zhoushan’s experience serves as an inspiration for the entire province of Zhejiang. As a smaller grain resource province with high consumption demands, enhancing the resilience of the grain supply chain is crucial for safeguarding food security.
A spokesperson from the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Grain and Material Reserves indicated that the province will continue to innovate and deepen its Party-building efforts, further promoting inter-enterprise cooperation and resource sharing within the industry. This collaborative dynamic is expected to foster a healthy interaction between Party activities and the development of the grain supply chain, ultimately facilitating the transformation and upgrading of the grain industry.