THE Zhanjiang port in Guangdong, the eighth largest port in China, has embarked on a massive expansion plan to build six deep-water berths at a cost of 360 million yuan (officially HK$485.6 million). Zhanjiang Port Authority managing director Liang Datong said the expansion, which would be funded by the central government, would boost the port's annual throughput to 30 million tonnes by the end of the century. ''The port's annual throughput is expected to reach 16 million tonnes this year,'' he said. It recorded a throughput of 15 million tonnes last year and handled cargo valued at 300 million yuan. The six new berths, which will handle vessels ranging from 35,000 to 50,000 tonnes, were expected to be in operation by the end of the year, Mr Liang said. Zhanjiang has four operating terminals with are 23 berths, including 18 for vessels of more than 10,000 tonnes. According to Mr Liang, Port Zhanjiang, which is a member of the International Port Association, had been one of the major supporting bases for South China Sea offshore exploration for a long time. Port Zhanjiang, located at the northeastern part of Leizhou Peninsula, has advanced loading and unloading machinery, spacious warehouses and storage yards. Total storage capacity amounts to 1.2 million tonnes, capable of handling more than 100 kinds of cargo including containers, packed goods, general cargo, bulk cargo, heavy weight cargo, oils and chemical liquids. The port also undertakes warehousing, transshipment, passenger service and roll on/roll off transport of motor vehicles. Besides cargo handling, storage and transshipment, Zhanjiang Port Authority is engaged in agency businesses for shipping, cargo forwarding, bonded storage, investment as well as tourism and real estate. Mr Liang said the authority, under the Ministry of Communication, was a conglomerate with a number of subsidiaries engaged in various businesses, employing about 12,000 staff. He estimated that its fixed assets would be worth about four billion yuan and added that the authority was considering restructuring and transforming some of its businesses into a new shareholding company. He said the authority would be concentrated in developing and expanding its activities in China and that it had no intention of listing its businesses on the Hongkong stock exchange as overseas listings was very complicated. However, Mr Liang did not rule the possibility of seeking public listing status for its businesses on the mainland stock markets. The Zhanjiang port maintains shipping communications with more than 80 countries and territories. It has a deep water coastline of nearly 100 kilometres, which can be used to build channel and berths of 200,000 to 300,000 tonnes. Inside the port, freighters of up to 50,000 tonnes can berth directly alongside the wharves in operation.