Measures underway to break sea ice

Massive sea ice is building up in the Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea. The frozen surfaces are affecting maritime traffic and offshore operations.

At Jinzhou port in Liaoning Province, workers are reinforcing cranes to counter the upcoming strong winds. Cargo ships are also being fitted with thicker ropes and waterproof covers.

The ice sheet extends 10 nautical miles from the shore near Dalian city. The thickest layer of ice is one meter deep. Locals say it is the worst ice build up in decades.

A vessel in berthed amid floating ice chunks in Laizhou Port of Laizhou  City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 15, 2010. The worst sea ice  in 30 years appeared from early January along the coastline of the Bohai  Sea and the Yellow Sea as cold fronts pushed temperature to minus 10  degrees Celsius and below. By now over 40% of the sea surface of Bohai  Sea has iced up. (Xinhua/Chu Yang)