On May 14, the reporter learned from the Guigang Maritime Safety Administration that the number of vessels registered with the administration and qualified for navigation on the Pinglu Canal has exceeded 100. This marks the initial formation of a modern inland vessel capacity system tailored by Guigang for the “river-canal-sea” intermodal transport of the Pinglu Canal, laying a solid foundation for Guigang’s full integration into the Pinglu Canal Economic Belt.
The Pinglu Canal is a backbone project of the New Western Land-Sea Corridor and a landmark project for accelerating the development of a strong transportation nation. The project is scheduled to be completed and open for trial navigation in September 2026, which will significantly enhance the transport efficiency of bulk cargo from Southwest China to the sea, injecting strong momentum into regional economic and trade development, industrial upgrading, and opening up. As the largest inland river port in South China, Guigang Port has long ranked first in Guangxi in terms of vessel capacity and registration numbers, making it a core city in the Pinglu Canal Economic Belt.
The Guigang Maritime Safety Administration has taken proactive and forward-looking measures, focusing closely on key aspects such as the launch support for new vessels, registration and certification, and financial support. It has vigorously promoted “one-stop acceptance, ultra-fast approval, and customized services,” continuously optimizing procedures and establishing a “green channel” for the registration of Pinglu Canal vessels. This has effectively resolved practical difficulties encountered by enterprises and the public during the certification process, such as unclear procedures and unfamiliarity with policies. In March 2026, the Guigang Maritime Safety Administration efficiently completed the registration of ownership, nationality, and mortgage for Guangxi’s first new inland vessel capable of navigating the Pinglu Canal, helping shipping enterprises reduce costs and expand capacity, injecting financial vitality into the development of the canal’s shipping economy.
Bi Changming, Director of the Government Affairs Center of the Guigang Maritime Safety Administration, stated: “As of now, Guigang has 110 registered inland vessels capable of reaching the sea via the Pinglu Canal. The vessel types cover combined bulk and container carriers, bulk carriers, dry cargo ships, etc., fully meeting the transport needs of various cargo categories such as sand and gravel, building materials, bulk commodities, and containers. In the next step, we will continue to focus on ensuring the navigation operation of the Pinglu Canal, further optimize maritime administrative services, comprehensively promote the ‘one-stop’ service for vessel departure, and continue to expand and improve the capacity of canal-navigable vessels, helping Guigang fully leverage its geographical advantage of ‘connecting rivers to the sea’ and striving to build an efficient, safe, green, and smooth modern waterway logistics system.”
Full Media Reporter Long Wei, Correspondent Zhang Yiliang, Peng Jin
