通行船舶吨位提至10倍，大宗物资直达上海国际航运中心……锡溧漕河无锡段航道工程通过竣工验收

Core Insights - The upgrade of the Xili Caogang River in Wuxi has significantly enhanced the shipping capacity, allowing 1,000-ton vessels to navigate freely, which is a substantial improvement from the previous capacity of only 100-ton vessels [1][3][4] Group 1: Infrastructure Development - The Xili Caogang River's Wuxi section has undergone a comprehensive upgrade to a Class III waterway standard, covering a total length of approximately 27.446 kilometers [3][4] - The project is part of Jiangsu's broader initiative to establish a high-grade waterway network, contributing to the "Double Link, Double Improvement" strategy [1][4] Group 2: Economic Impact - In 2024, the Wuxi section is expected to handle 181,700 vessels with an average tonnage of 675 tons, resulting in a total cargo throughput of 123 million tons and 70 million tons of goods [6] - The upgrade is projected to save transportation costs by approximately 30% for companies like Jiangsu Guoxin Energy Co., which operates five 500-ton berths and has an annual cargo volume of around 1.5 million tons [8] Group 3: Regional Connectivity - The upgraded waterway enhances the efficiency of container transport within the Yangtze River Economic Belt and coastal ports, facilitating the direct transport of bulk materials to the Shanghai International Shipping Center [6][8] - The Xili Caogang River is a crucial segment of the "Wuxi Three Port Linkage" strategy, which connects Yixing Port, Jiangyin Port, and Xin'an Port, thereby improving regional logistics [4][6] Group 4: Future Prospects - The "14th Five-Year Plan" period will see the initiation of further upgrades to the second-class waterways, reinforcing the role of water transport as a strategic channel for Jiangsu's development [8] - The continuous improvement of the Xili Caogang River's conditions has led to a significant increase in container throughput, with 82,100 TEUs recorded in the first ten months of 2023, nearly ten times the total throughput of 2008 [9]