From 11 to 16 November 2014, the National Vocational Skills Competition for the Transport Industry was held at YICT. The competition was organised by the Ministry of Transport (MOT), Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and National Committee of the Chinese Seamen and Construction Workers’ Union in conjunction with MOT’s Vocational Accreditation Centre and the Transport Commission of Shenzhen Municipality. Now in its 6th year, the event focused on the port sector for the first time, attracting approximately 3,000 contestants. Around 200 of the contestants, representing 27 ports, entered the finals.

The competition was for both quay crane and forklift operators. Quay crane operators were required to lift containers via restricted poles and lanes and load them onto the designated platforms. The aim of these tasks was to examine the stability and accuracy of the operators’ control over the hoist. Forklift operators had to complete tasks such as accurately placing pallets, hanging and removing lanterns and moving an egg from the top of one vertical pole to another without hitting strategically placed poles. These tasks were designed to test their overall competence in terms of stability, accuracy, speed and deftness.Besides the operational tests, all operators had to undertake the written theory tests as well. In the end, both the crane operator and forklift operator of YICT garnered championship in the competition. The crane operators of YICT won the top three places and the forklift operators came the first, fourth and seventh, enabling the Shenzhen Port delegation to win the overall group championship.

As one of the world’s busiest container ports, YICT plays an important role in South China’s import and export trade. In 2014, the company’s throughput grew favourably, contributing to the overall stable growth of volume at Shenzhen Port and helping it to retain its status as one of the world’s top three ports. Despite its busy operations, YICT allocated a dedicated area to serve as the competition venue and provided the event with both equipment and facilities, a sign of its full support to the exchange and improvement of port vocational skills.

Officials from MOT and related government departments, the Transport Commission of Shenzhen Municipality, Yantian District Government and guests from all participating ports attended the awards ceremony.