China completes first full test of canal link to Southeast Asia ahead of September launch
Patrol vessel’s full run along Pinglu Canal moves megaproject closer to a planned September launch
From Friday to Saturday, the Guangxi Maritime Safety Administration sent a patrol vessel to navigate the Pinglu Canal from the Gulf of Tonkin, which is shared by China and Vietnam. The vessel travelled inland to the canal’s northernmost point on the Pingtang River, according to a statement by the waterway’s operator on its official WeChat account on Sunday.
It was the first end-to-end test run since the canal’s main engineering phase was completed in July, according to the statement.
Authorities checked key navigation conditions, including channel width, tight bends, bridge height clearances and river junctions, as well as markers, safety risks and emergency response areas, the statement said.
Equipped with optical tracking and other data-collection systems, the patrol vessel also collected navigation information, according to the statement. The 46.1-metre-long (151.2-foot) vessel can move up to 25.3 knots and withstand winds of up to 88km/h (54.7mph).
Road transport remains the fastest option for many domestic shipments in China, but the canal could offer a more cost-efficient alternative for regional trade