Heilongjiang Shipping Group Re‑opens 1,000‑tonne Cargo Route along the Songhua River

According to the State‑owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Heilongjiang Province, Heilongjiang Shipping Group, a provincial‑owned enterprise, has resolved a navigation blockage that had lasted for more than two decades on the Songhua River waterway between Jiamusi and Harbin. In September 2026, a 1,000‑tonne cargo vessel carrying float glass completed its maiden voyage and docked at Harbin Port. The full 445‑kilometre inland water corridor linking Jiamusi and Harbin is now fully open, marking a historic breakthrough for inland river shipping in Heilongjiang.

The river segment between the two cities ceased regular freight operations in the late 1990s. Expanding overland transport networks, seasonal low‑water levels and insufficient waterway maintenance created the situation in which heavy‑goods traffic relied entirely on land routes. Working through a coordinated operational plan, Heilongjiang Shipping Group set up dedicated business teams to secure cargo volumes in the early phase of the restored service. 

It deployed both road feeder fleets and specialised 1,000‑tonne vessels to establish a combined road‑water logistics loop covering short‑haul road transfer, port loading, inland water shipment and final distribution. Strict whole‑process controls over loading and transit were put in place to mitigate shipping risks. Operations were scheduled within the favourable autumn navigation window following hydrological assessments. The enterprise also maintained close communication with local transport and maritime authorities to secure official guidance and policy backing for trial runs and formal launch, delivering end‑to‑end “door‑to‑door” logistics for shippers.

Re‑opening the water corridor brings multiple practical outcomes. The restored route connects major river‑side port facilities and links inland hinterland zones with border hub terminals. It transforms the Songhua River stretch from a purely ecological scenic belt into an industrial freight corridor and improves the province’s integrated multi‑modal transport layout. Capitalising on high capacity, lower costs and reduced energy consumption of water‑borne transport, the service shifts bulk cargo away from highways, easing pressure on land‑based freight networks and cutting logistics expenditure for local businesses. It stimulates industrial activity alongside the river and realises integrated ecological, transport and economic value across the Songhua River basin. 

The new logistics pathway runs from the Harbin hinterland along the main watercourse of the Songhua River via the Jiamusi hub, onward along the boundary waterways of the Heilongjiang River towards sea outlets. It connects border ports at Tongjiang and Fuyuan, forms inland water trunk links for Jilin‑Heilongjiang regions and border crossings facing Russia, and opens extra channels for north‑facing external trade.

For its subsequent work, Heilongjiang Shipping Group will keep refining its end‑to‑end logistics services. New dedicated water‑borne freight lines will be developed for bulk commodities including grain and coal. The group intends to strengthen its inland‑coordinated river‑sea transport framework, expand inland and cross‑border water‑borne shipping operations, and unlock the full logistical potential of this key inland waterway.