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Steel Leads Upgrades and Breakthroughs in Port and Terminal Construction

Release time:

2025-08-24

In the future, with the integration of green steel and digital technology, port and terminal construction will achieve the coordinated development of "low carbon, intelligent, and long-term."

As the maritime gateways for global trade, ports and terminals handle the docking of 10,000-ton cargo ships and the operation of heavy machinery daily, placing extremely stringent demands on their structural strength and corrosion resistance. In extreme environments subject to high salt spray, strong impacts, and heavy loads, specialized steels, with their superior performance, have become the "bone of the wave" in port construction, fundamentally determining a port's operational efficiency and safety lifespan.

From terminal pile foundations to loading and unloading equipment, steel is used across core port infrastructure. In deepwater terminal pile foundations, seawater-resistant steel, by adding alloying elements such as nickel and molybdenum, creates a "metallic barrier" against seawater erosion, extending the service life of the pile foundation to over 50 years—twice that of ordinary steel. The main beams of container cranes utilize high-strength quenched and tempered steel with a yield strength exceeding 960 MPa. While carrying 40-foot containers, this reduces structural weight by 25%, significantly reducing energy consumption. The application of these specialized steels not only addresses technical challenges in port construction but also promotes the transformation of terminals towards larger-scale, intelligent terminals. With the advancement of port automation, steel technology is entering a new stage of integration: high performance and multifunctionality. Wear-resistant steel produced using controlled rolling and controlled cooling technology improves the wear resistance of container supports in terminal yards by 40%, reducing maintenance frequency. Composite steel with integrated corrosion protection and electrical conductivity provides stable support for smart charging stations in automated terminals. Domestic steel now fully empowers port construction. From Q690qE bridge steel at Shanghai Yangshan Port to NM450 wear-resistant steel at Qingdao Port's automated terminals, China has achieved independent supply of key materials, laying the foundation for my country's ports to become world-class.

In the future, with the integration of green steel and digital technology, port and terminal construction will achieve the coordinated development of "low carbon, intelligent, and long-term." "Smart steel" with self-monitoring capabilities can provide real-time feedback on structural stress changes, proactively mitigating safety risks, and continuously building an efficient and reliable "maritime hub" for global trade.