“Got it. I have got it. Qingang 1 is coming to the No. 1 Berth of Beilong Port to break the ice!” Replied Yang Xing, captain of the “Qingang 1” icebreaker of Hebei Port Group. It has been 30 days since they came to Huludao City, and they have completed 33 icebreaking and towing operations.
Affected by the cold waves in this winter, the largest floating ice in Liaodong Bay range from 45 to 55 nautical miles, with an average ice thickness of 10 to 20 cm and a maximum ice thickness of 30 cm.
As the only tugboat, “Qingang 1” has to do towing and icebreaking operations, which requires high technology of the tugboat. In order to provide customers with better services, Qingang Shipping Company has sent its best icebreaker, the “Qingang 1” to do the work after conducting in-depth research on the low-temperature water environment, channel, hydrological characteristics, and meteorological conditions of Beilong Port.
“We break the ice in the port at regular intervals in case the ice layer becomes too thick, especially before the freighters enter the berths, otherwise the sea ice will block them to pull into the port.” Yang Xing said, “The ice layer has been thick recently, and sometimes we need at least 3 hours to do our work.”
The bow of the tugboat has a solid superstructure to break the ice with its own weight and forward power. The tugboat comes to the thinner part of the sea ice, and the water flows generated by the stern propeller disperse the ice in the water to both sides of the tugboat, so that other ships can safely enter and exit the port.
The “Qingang 1” icebreaker will work in Beilong Port for one and a half months.
The Beilong Port of Huludao city is close to an estuary with low salinity, and the port area is prone to be frozen. Therefore, tugboats are necessary for the ships entering or leaving the port.
Qingang Shipping Company has paid close attention to the towing transportation market. As early as 2018, they signed an agreement with the Beilong Port to provide tugboat services, and have occupied the market for 3 years with high-quality services.
“Qingang 1” icebreaker is breaking the sea ice. Photo by Yang Xing
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