JINAN, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- A cargo ship set sail on Saturday from Yantai Port in east China's Shandong Province for Tanga Port in Tanzania, Africa, marking the launch of the general cargo shipping route.

According to the Yantai Port Authority, the new route -- the 29th international route for general cargo at Yantai Port -- signifies another step for the port in building a global supply chain system.

The new route helps provide more efficient logistics options for East Africa. After arriving at Tanga Port, cargo can be further transported to inland countries such as Uganda and Rwanda.

Yantai Port has already established international shipping routes to Asia, Africa, America and Europe, serving over 200 types of cargo, including special equipment, construction machinery, and wind power equipment.

In the first nine months, the shipment volume of general cargo at Yantai Port reached 11.9 million tonnes, up 41.8 percent year on year and already surpassing last year's total. ■