Business · Trade · 3 hrs ago
Guangzhou adjusts navigation markers as channel widening work advances
Guangzhou is widening a shipping channel in the Pearl River estuary to help large vessels reach its port.
The project covers about 24.1 kilometres and will widen the channel by 37.5 metres on each side, to a total of 460 metres.
Work is taking place in an existing channel, so dredging must happen alongside normal ship traffic.
Guangzhou’s navigation staff are changing marker positions in stages to make room for the work while continuing to guide vessels.
In the latest adjustment, some floating lights were restored, while others were temporarily removed and replaced by virtual markers shown on ships’ navigation systems.
The completed channel is planned to allow two-way passage for container ships of up to 200,000 tonnes when not fully loaded, and 150,000 tonnes when not fully loaded.
Staff will continue adjusting and checking markers as construction progresses to support safe navigation.
Guangzhou’s navigation-marker office is adjusting markers in stages as work advances to widen the port’s 200,000-tonne channel.
The latest changes restore two physical light buoys and replace three others temporarily with virtual AIS markers.
The adjustments are intended to provide space for dredging while keeping navigation information available to vessels.
The channel is about 24.1 kilometres long and is being widened by 37.5 metres on each side.
Once completed, it will be 460 metres wide and designed for two-way passage by certain large container ships.
- Who
- Guangzhou’s navigation-marker office under the Nanhai Navigation Support Center is carrying out the adjustments.
- What
- Physical light buoys and virtual AIS markers are being adjusted during the channel-widening work.
- When
- The fifth phase of marker adjustments for work section one was reported on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- Guangzhou Port’s channel in the Pearl River Estuary’s Lingdingyang waters.
- Why
- To provide space for dredging while maintaining navigation information and supporting vessel safety.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The combined use of physical light buoys and virtual AIS markers meets dredging needs while maintaining continuous navigation information in the relevant waters.
Officials told reporters about the staged navigation-marker adjustments.
China News Service reported the adjustments as the channel-widening project continued.
- Channel length
- About 24.1 kilometres
- Planned widening
- 37.5 metres on each side
- Planned channel width
- 460 metres
- Restored physical markers
- Guangzhou Port light buoys 35 and 36A
- Temporary virtual markers
- Three, replacing light buoys 36, 37 and 40
Sources
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