Data of the North Jiangsu Canal Comprehensive Information System showed 182 fleets with 2,262 cargo ship waiting to pass the Huai’an locks and another 60 fleets with 1,102 cargo ships in the Shaobo section.

Locks are sections of waterways that can raise and lower water levels to move vessels from one waterway to another.

No. 3 Lock in Shaobo and No. 1 Lock in Huai’an have been under the major overhaul starting from March 20 and 25, respectively.

The North Jiangsu Grand Canal Administration of Navigation Affairs has prepared plan in advance and introduced relative measures to ensure smooth operation during the period. Currently, progress has been made in the maintenance while cargo ships and transport safety and orders are guaranteed.

A work mechanism safeguarding the operation of both main and branch channels was established on April 3 to further improve safety responses against the upcoming agricultural irrigation peak and other factors.

In line with the management and control plan, the adjacent Shiqiao Lock limits the number of ships traveling north, which reached 1,267 in 33 fleets at 3:00 pm on April 7. The Huaiyin Lock limits the number of ships moving south, which reached 30 in 20 fleets. Such efforts have helped keep the number of ships in the waterway relatively stable.

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