BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- When Li Ran, 46, first encountered the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River, the longest waterway in China, he never expected his destiny would become intertwined with this colossus of cement and steel.
As director of the navigation engineering technical center at the Three Gorges Navigation Authority, Li has devoted the last two decades to overseeing the world's largest hydropower project. "My job is to ensure the ship lock and lift operate safely and efficiently, much like a doctor providing health check-ups for patients," he said.
Since beginning operations in 2003, the five-tier ship lock of the Three Gorges Dam has been renowned for its massive cargo throughput, handling an average of three tonnes of cargo every second. But as Li recalled, the early days were never easy.
With the completion of the Three Gorges Dam, cargo demands have boomed due to the lower costs and environmental benefits of water transport. As a result, the original throughput capacity has become insufficient for growing needs, Li said.
Initially, ships were required to enter the lock one by one, which significantly slowed down the process. Li described it "like herding ducks through a pen." "To improve passage efficiency, my technical team and I sought a solution."
"Drawing inspiration from a ceremonial parade, we now coordinate ships and organize them into fleets. This allows each fleet to pass through the lock simultaneously, greatly reducing passage time," Li said.
As traffic through the Three Gorges Dam continues to increase, Li and his team have pioneered various ship lock maintenance equipment and techniques. These innovations include a massive synchronized lifting device and a flexible stress loading apparatus.
Thanks to these advancements, maintenance time for the locks has been significantly reduced from over 100 days to approximately 30 days, while effectively managing safety risks during repairs, Li noted.
With these substantial improvements in shipping efficiency, the annual throughput of vessels at the Three Gorges Dam has now reached 169 million tonnes, exceeding the initial design capacity of 100 million tonnes.
Meanwhile, Li noted that through a China-Germany cooperation program, transport ministries of both countries have maintained exchanges regarding inland waterway hubs. He said that his team also shares their expertise with international peers. "Now, at international conferences, it's often our team presenting while foreign peers take notes," Li said proudly.
The world's most technologically complex inland river ship lock is poised to undergo AI-driven upgrades. By utilizing big data and machine learning, the lock is expected to further optimize scheduling, allowing vessels to receive real-time transit estimates from departure to destination.
China, one of the world's most river-rich countries and home to some of the most complex water systems, has placed a high priority on constructing reservoirs and dams tailored to regional specifications. Over the years, the country has developed the world's largest and most beneficial water infrastructure system.
For Li, the most joyful moments come when global tourists cheer from passing ships. "Seeing them waving flags and applauding our mega-project, I am filled with pride," he said. ■
