Three Gorges ship lift begins 5th annual maintenance
2025-08-26 19:08:21
By Liu Xinyu.
The Three Gorges ship lift began its fifth annual maintenance on August 25, with operations suspended for 35 days.
The Three Gorges ship lift is the largest and most technically sophisticated of its kind in the world, capable of quickly transporting vessels with a displacement of up to 3,000 tons over the dam. Since trial operations began in 2016, it has safely completed over 48,500 lifts, carrying over 2 million passengers and 19 million tons of cargo.
The Three Gorges ship lift began its fifth annual maintenance on August 25, with operations suspended for 35 days.
The Three Gorges ship lift is the largest and most technically sophisticated of its kind in the world, capable of quickly transporting vessels with a displacement of up to 3,000 tons over the dam. Since trial operations began in 2016, it has safely completed over 48,500 lifts, carrying over 2 million passengers and 19 million tons of cargo.
Workers lift supplies at the maintenance job site. Photo by Huang Xiaohuan.
The ship lift is a crucial component of the navigation management system at the Three Gorges hub. The maintenance team will fix pre-identified defects in equipment and facilities, enhancing its reliability and ensuring safe operations.
The maintenance work covers more than 60 specific tasks across seven categories, including metal-structure machinery, hydraulics, electrical systems, hydraulic engineering, public facilities, checking and testing, and configuration tests. Fifteen companies and organizations are participating in the maintenance project, involving more than 290 technicians and workers.
According to the Watershed Management Center of China Three Gorges Corporation, the workload for this year’s maintenance is nearly 20 percent greater than past years, though the maintenance period remains the same.
Tasks include work in confined spaces and technically demanding repairs. To ensure efficiency, the team has divided the project into phases and introduced new tools, techniques, and materials after extensive preparatory work.
During the suspension, some vessels that meet certain criteria can detour through the hub’s ship locks. The Three Gorges Navigation Authority has issued a navigation suspension notice and enhanced its coordination with maritime authorities to ensure a stable navigation order.
Li Ming and Liu Yue contributed to this story.
During the suspension, some vessels that meet certain criteria can detour through the hub’s ship locks. The Three Gorges Navigation Authority has issued a navigation suspension notice and enhanced its coordination with maritime authorities to ensure a stable navigation order.
Li Ming and Liu Yue contributed to this story.
