The port is also advancing efforts to shift more cargo from trucks to trains, with rail now handling more than 70 percent of its iron ore shipments — a move seen as more environmentally friendly.

"We're speeding up the switch to clean-energy vehicles. Right now, all the trucks moving containers inside our terminals run on new energy," said Li Lei, deputy head of Tianjin Port Group's environmental department.

"We now have 360 electric container trucks and 132 intelligent transport robots," said Wang Zhili, a manager in the same department. "Together, they help us cut around 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year."

Looking ahead, China plans to build a group of world-class smart and green ports by 2027. Xu Wenqiang, director of the Ministry of Transport's science and technology department, said at a recent press briefing that Chinese ports already dominate global rankings — with eight of the world's top 10 cargo ports and six of the top 10 container ports by throughput located in China.

"China now leads the world in automated terminal construction," Xu said, noting that Chinese ports also hold the world record for container handling efficiency at automated terminals.