Two container docks, which cost 20.33 billion new Taiwan dollars (606 million US dollars), went into service on Monday in Taipei Harbor, one of the ports for direct shipping between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland.

Taiwan's three major shipping companies started a project in 2003 to build 7 container docks in Taipei Harbor, which functions as an auxiliary port to the island's biggest harbor in Keelung.

Taiwan's transport department said the two docks have a total length of 716 meters and a water depth of 16 meters. They will serve ships from 16 shipping lines for loading and unloading work every week.

The department said the two docks' total business income is estimated at 1 billion new Taiwan dollars this year.

The construction of the two docks took five years and six months. The rest of docks will be built by 2014, in accordance with the market demand, the department said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2009)