Thursday, April 9, 2009

Port of Shanghai

Picture from LINK

The Port of Shanghai, located in the vicinity of Shanghai, comprises a deep-sea port and a river port. In 2006, with a total of 537 million tons of cargo transported, it became the world's busiest port by cargo tonnage for the first time.

Geography
The Port of Shanghai faces the East China Sea to the east, and Hangzhou Bay to the south. It includes the heads of the Yangtze River, Huangpu River (which enters the Yangtze River), and Qiantang River.


Administration
The Port of Shanghai is managed by Shanghai International Port which superseded the Shanghai Port Authority in 2003. Shanghai International Port Company Limited is a public listed company which the Shanghai Municipal Government owns 44.23 percent of its outstanding shares.


History
During the Ming Dynasty, what is now the city of Shanghai was a part of Jiangsu Province (with a small part in Zhejiang Province). While Shanghai had become a county seat in the Yuan Dynasty, it remained a relatively small town.

Its location at the mouth of the Yangtze led to its development as coastal trade developed during the Qing Dynasty, especially the Qianlong era. Gradually, the port of Shanghai surpassed the port of Ningbo and the port of Guangzhou to became the largest port of China at the time.

In 1842, Shanghai became a treaty port, thus developing into an international commercial city. By the early 20th century, it was the largest city in the Far East, and the largest port in the Far East.

In 1949, with the Communist takeover in Shanghai, overseas trade was cut dramatically. The economic policy of the People's Republic had a crippling effect on Shanghai's infrastructure and capital development.

In 1991, the central government allowed Shanghai to initiate Economic Reform. Since then, the port of Shanghai has developed at an increasing pace. By 2005, the Yangshan deep water port was built on the Yangshan islands, a group of islands in Hangzhou Bay, linked to Shanghai by the Donghai Bridge. This development allowed the port to overcome shallow water conditions in its current location, and to rival another deep-water port, the nearby Ningbo-Zhoushan port.


Harbour zones
Yangshan Deep-water PortThe port of Shanghai includes 5 major working zones:

Yangtze River estuary
Huangpu River mouth at Wusongkou (Chinese: 吴淞口)
Waigaoqiao (外高桥) in Pudong
Yangshan deep water port (Hangzhou Bay & East China Sea)
Pudong coastline (East China Sea)

Economy
The Port of Shanghai is a critically important transport hub for the Yangtze River region and the most important gateway for foreign trade. It serves the Yangtze economically developed hinterland of Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Henan provinces with its dense population, strong industrial base and developed agricultural sector.


Data
Total area: 3619.6 km sq

1984, 100 million tons (mt) moved
1999, 186 mt
2005, 443 mt
2006, 537 mt

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

MS Oasis of the Seas


MS Oasis of the Seas is a cruise ship presently under construction. Once completed, it will displace MS Independence of the Seas as the world's largest passenger vessel, carrying 5,400 passengers.[2] She was designed under the name "Project Genesis". She was ordered in February 2006. Her keel was laid down on December 11, 2007 at STX Europe (formerly Aker Yards) in Turku, Finland. In May 2008 she was named Oasis of the Seas after a contest was held to name the new ship. When she will be completed in late-2009, she will operate Caribbean cruises out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A sister ship, the Allure of the Seas, began construction in February 2008.

Oasis of the Seas will offer passengers innovative things such as two-story loft suites, an amphitheater with poolside performances, zip-lining and a carousel.

In February 2009, the company announced in a financial report that full funding for both of the ships has not been secured so far and that there is a risk that it cannot be secured when the ships are delivered

Neighborhoods
The Oasis of the Seas will include a new concept in cruise ship design - one that bears resemblance to theme park planning. She will have seven "neighborhoods" on board, each with their own distinct characteristics.

Boardwalk
The new AquaTheater, the carousel and the zip line are some activities located on this neighborhood. The Boardwalk also features a variety of restaurants and shops such as Johnny Rockets diner, the Seafood Shack, Candy Beach, and the Boardwalk Doughnut Shop.


Royal Promenade
The Royal Promenade will have many of the same features as the ones found on the Voyager and Freedom Class ships, but there are some new amenities. These include a skylight; that will let natural light flow inside from above, and the Rising Tide bar, which is a bar that will move between three decks of the ship. There is also going to be a shopping mall of sorts aboard, with some shops and cafes including: a champagne bar, Cafe Promenade, Sorrento's Pizzeria, a Close Shave men's groom and barber shop, clothing, jewelery, a general store, and a bar. The space will still be the length of a football field but the width will be 19 meters, more than two times the width of both the Freedom class Royal Promenade and Voyager class Royal Promenade.

Central Park
Central Park, which is intended to have greenery in it, will be open to the sky and will include a variety of shop and restaurant options including the always present Chops Grille.

Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center
The Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center will be larger than the ones on the Voyager and Freedom Class Ships. The Fitness Center will offer different workout studios for a variety of classes. The Spa will offer massages, saunas , steam rooms, a Beauty Salon, and the Vitality Café.

Pool and Sports Zone
The Oasis of the Seas will feature 4 pools and 10 whirlpools, there are also several vantage points of Central Park from the pool areas. The Beach Pool is intended to have a beach theme, the typical H20 Zone, a giant octopus and other water features. There is also the traditional main pool,surrounded by 3 bars in the pool area.

The adults-only solarium has moved to the bow and it will feature some whirlpools like the Freedom Class. The sports deck will feature: basketball, two flowriders, two rock walls, "oasis dunes" mini-golf, and a zipline that glides across the boardwalk.

Entertainment Place
The Entertainment Place will be accessible by stairs from the Royal Promenade, it occupies a central location and acts as a crossroads to many of the ship’s amenities. It hosts venues including the Casino Royale, and the Opal Theater.

The Entertainment Place will feature an ice skating rink like the Voyager and Freedom classes. It also will feature a larger Casino Royale, the Opal Theater (main theater), and some other theaters that will include dance lessons and competitions.

Youth Zone
Home to the Adventure Ocean youth program, with space dedicated to youth activities, from teen areas to learning environments for the smaller guests.

The Youth Zone provides for kids ages 3 to 11 who can use the Adventure Science Lab, the Imagination Art Studio and the new Adventure Ocean Children’s Theater, plus hangout areas for teens.