THE western part of Yantian port in Shenzhen will be the site of three new berths and the expansion of an existing fourth one to accommodate 50,000-tonne ships and the capacity to move 1.8 million TEU a year.

The US$561 million project, including imported equipment costing about $150 million, will be built and operated by Shenzhen Yantian Port Holdings Co Ltd and Hutchison Whampoa Port Investment Ltd for 30 years.

According to the construction scheme, the four new berths will be operational in 2010.