Amphibious Use, Multi-functional Zone: Exploring Guangxi's Most Comprehensive Waterway Service Area

On October 22, the "Water Transport China—Observing Guangxi from the Water" all-media publicity campaign interview and research group visited the Qinzhou Water Comprehensive Service Zone, which is also the boarding point for tourists on the Pinglu Canal water tourism route. That day, the service zone was bustling with people, with stores for crew members, fast food outlets, and cultural and creative shops, all exuding a rich sense of life.

According to Feng Guoxing, an engineer of Guangxi Pinglu Canal Construction Co., Ltd., the service zone is the largest and most comprehensive water service area in Guangxi. It can simultaneously accommodate 23 5,000-ton-class vessels for temporary anchorage, providing docking and wind sheltering services for passing ships.

The service zone is equipped with a comprehensive energy station featuring a dual-function layout of "ship-to-shore refueling and land vehicle fueling." It can refuel ships with 150 kilograms of LNG (liquefied natural gas) per minute, and it takes about 2 hours to fill up a 5,000-ton-class intermodal vessel. Diesel refueling is even faster, with an efficiency of 450 liters per minute, enabling a 5,000-ton-class ship to be fully refueled in under an hour.

"The biggest feature of the Qinzhou service zone is 'dual-use for water and land with diverse energy sources,' serving both watercrafts and land vehicles. This is the first station of its type operated by PetroChina in Guangxi," said Huang Sunhai, manager of PetroChina's Pinglu Canal Qinzhou Service Zone Comprehensive Energy Station. Passing ships can refuel LNG or diesel here, and nearby vehicles can also refuel. "The energy station not only ensures fuel supply for Pinglu Canal ships but also makes daily travel more convenient for people along the route."

In addition to fuel refueling, the Qinzhou Water Comprehensive Service Zone also provides ancillary services such as wastewater and garbage reception for ships, as well as crew members' rest and shopping facilities.

The passenger ship "Beigang Post 11" shuttles daily between the Qinzhou Water Comprehensive Service Zone and Longmen Bridge, operating the water tourism route with two trips per day. Captain Zhang Zhiliang has been steering here since the route's inception.

Speaking of the conveniences provided by the service zone, he spoke enthusiastically: "As soon as the ship docks at the pier, the wastewater transfer truck promptly arrives to collect, saving both time and effort. This offers real assurance for timely departures of passenger ships."

He also mentioned an emergency situation where equipment on the ship unexpectedly broke down and needed repairs. The service zone staff immediately helped contact a professional repair team. "If the crew had to disembark and find someone themselves, it would be time-consuming and strenuous, not to mention disrupting the ship’s operations."

Zhang Yongdan, service chief of the "Beigang Post 11" ship, often shops for daily necessities at the service zone store for crew members. She said, "The prices of goods are similar to those in regular supermarkets, with a wide variety of items available. Basic daily supplies can all be purchased, making material replenishment very convenient."