China News Service, Jiamusi, May 8 (Jiang Hui, Li Ning) With the complete ice break-up of the China-Russia boundary river Heilongjiang entering the open-water period, on the 8th, the dock of the Eastern Operation Area of Tongjiang Waterway Port sounded its whistle. The ro-ro ship “Longdu 004”, carrying 6 trucks, 1 bus, and 80 passengers, slowly departed from its berth heading for the port of Nizhneleninskoye in Russia, marking the start of passenger and cargo transportation for the 2026 open-water season at Tongjiang Port.
Around 9:00 on the 8th, in the joint inspection hall of the Eastern Operation Area of Tongjiang Waterway Port, a continuous stream of passengers handling entry-exit procedures were queuing orderly with their luggage, waiting to clear customs. Immigration police officers guided passengers through customs smoothly, with document checks, vehicle inspections, and ship surveillance all seamlessly connected, achieving “immediate inspection upon arrival and rapid clearance”.
To ensure smooth operation on the first day of navigation, the Tongjiang Entry-Exit Border Inspection Station formulated a special duty plan in advance, optimized the customs clearance process, and implemented convenience measures such as adding inspection channels and off-counter guidance to minimize clearance time and enhance the transit efficiency of cross-border personnel, vehicles, and ships.
The Eastern Operation Area of Tongjiang Waterway Port is separated from the port of Nizhneleninskoye in Russia by just one river, with the shortest water distance being 1 kilometer. Ships departing from Tongjiang this time can carry up to 130 passengers and a cargo capacity of up to 390 tons. As an important water trade channel between China and Russia, the Eastern Operation Area of Tongjiang Waterway Port has an annual passenger handling capacity of 500,000 person-times and an annual cargo handling capacity of 600,000 tons. (End)
