'Bay Area One Port Pass' project marks second anniversary

Aerial view of Nansha Port. [Photo/WeChat account: nanshafabu]

The "Bay Area One Port Pass" logistics integration reform project launched by Guangzhou Customs and Guangzhou Port Group in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area recently celebrated its second anniversary.

Created to boost foreign trade and shipping efficiency, while meeting the development needs of different parties, the "Bay Area One Port Pass" project takes Nansha Port as the hub port and the river ports along the Pearl River as the feeder ports, forming a "two ports as one" mode of operation. Through the project, a "one declaration, one inspection, and one release" system for import and export cargo has been established, streamlining the procedures at coastal ports.

By the end of October this year, a total of 14 routes had been opened under the "Bay Area One Port Pass" project, with the average storage period for goods shortened from seven days to two days. The project has covered a total of 135,000 TEUs of imported and exported goods, saving import and export enterprises over 50 million yuan ($7 million) in comprehensive costs.

With the support of information technology throughout the entire process, import and export enterprises can have a more accurate grasp of all aspects of customs clearance of goods. As a result, they can dynamically and scientifically arrange shipping schedules and slots, thus reducing the time and costs associated with changes in shipping schedules and slots due to transportation factors.

At present, Guangzhou Customs has received applications from a number of terminals on the Pearl River to be included in the "Bay Area One Port Pass" project.