The Yangshan Deep-Water Port in Shanghai has invested 210 million yuan (US$28 million) in environmental protection projects during its first two phases, experts from the Ministry of Communications said yesterday.

A total of 314 million small fish and crabs have been put into Yangshan waters to maintain a balanced ocean environment since 2004, costing 12.52 million yuan, said Gui Mo, vice president of Shanghai Tongsheng Investment Co Ltd, the operator of the city's international shipping hub.

The constructors of the port will reduce offshore work during the spawning period from May to June each year.

A 500-tonne ship was built to collect garbage in the port, and three living wastewater disposal systems have been put into use.

The PH level, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, reactive phosphate, heavy metal such as copper, mercury, zinc, lead and cadmium in the port water all meet the national standards for sea water.

Construction of the port's second phase started on June 13, 2006 and finished on December 10, 2006. By the end of August, the harbors of the two projects have handled 3.85 million standard containers. The total throughput is expected to exceed five million by the end of this year.

(Shanghai Daily September 12, 2007)