On December 8, Asia's largest trailing suction hopper dredging vessel, the Tong Jun, completed all procedures and became officially registered under the Port of Yangpu (CNYPG) located in the northwest of Hainan Province. Its arrival not only adds a potent new maritime "cleaner" to the Hainan Free Trade Port but also marks a landmark moment when the total carrying capacity of ships registered under CNYGP surpassed seven million deadweight tons.

The Tong Jun (meaning "dredging the way clear") is China's first independently designed and constructed ultra-large trailing suction hopper dredger, with a hopper capacity of 35,000 cubic meters. The vessel, which passed its sea trials in the Yellow Sea with flying colors, fills a significant gap in China's high-capacity dredger capabilities and will soon provide crucial support for the country’s marine development efforts.

The ship's registration will substantially strengthen CNYPG's service capabilities in areas such as channel dredging, shoreline restoration, and marine engineering operations. The port's registry now covers vessel types in key sectors, including crude oil transport, heavy-lift transport, and offshore engineering, helping to build a more diversified and competitive maritime service system.

As of now, CNYPG's registry lists 73 international vessels, which have a combined gross tonnage exceeding 4.075 million tons and a total carrying capacity of 7.1631 million deadweight tons. The total asset value of these vessels has surpassed 23 billion yuan, and cumulative registrations have reached 91 vessels, keeping Yangpu at the forefront among China's free trade zones and ports in both registration numbers and carrying capacity.

A representative of the Hainan Maritime Safety Administration said the agency views the seven-million-deadweight-ton milestone as a new starting point for high-quality development. They plan to continue innovating the international ship registration system and to promote the Port of Yangpu as a world-class and globally influential ship registration brand.