HAIKOU, September 28. /TASS/. China's largest ferry port in Zhanjiang, southern Guangdong province, opened late last week to cut passenger and freight commute across the Qiongzhou Strait, which separates the mainland from Hainan Island, in half. According to the China Daily, the crossing now takes about an hour.

According to the Chinese authorities, such progress became possible after the modernization of the transport and logistics zone in the port of Xuwen, located 12 nautical miles (approximately 23 km) from Haikou, the administrative center of the island province. The new pier consists of 16 berths, adapted to serve vessels with a displacement of up to 5,000 tonnes.

“This is a new cornerstone that will enable our city to play a more active part in the implementation of a nationwide strategy, including the formation of Hainan's free trade port,” said Zhanjiang Party Committee Secretary Zheng Renhao.

According to the project, the improved ferry crossing is capable of transporting 3.2 million vehicles and 17.28 million passengers per year. Investments exceeded 2 billion yuan (about $ 293 million). "There is an opportunity to significantly intensify transportation through the Qiongzhou Strait. <...> We expect enhancing of logistics ties, boosting of trade, inter-industry and personal cooperation," said Li Jing, director of the Guangdong Provincial Transport Department. 

The ferry is the only mode of transport through the Qiongzhou Strait, the width of which ranges from 20 to 40 km, and the maximum depth amounts to 120 m. Earlier, the issue of erecting a bridge in this area was considered, however, due to storms and typhoons that periodically disrupt the island's regular transport communication with mainland China, experts deemed such a project unacceptable for safety reasons. Moreover, a program was to build a 24 km long underwater tunnel at a depth of 300 m, which could become the longest in the world, was also drafted.