Fog caused by rainy weather since mid-February has disrupted international shipping services around Shanghai Port, port authorities said Tuesday.

Photo taken on February 19, 2009 shows the high-rise buildings shrouded by fog in Shanghai.

Some 100 international ships delayed or canceled exit or entry plans at the port areas of Wusongkou, Waigaoqiao and Yangshan Tuesday morning, Shanghai Immigration Frontier Defence General Station (SIFDGS) said.

This is the sixth such disruption this month, said SIFDGS.

In Zhanghuabang berth near Wusongkou, visibility was below 200 meters Tuesday morning.

Wusongkou checkpoint reported Tuesday that more than 40 international ships had canceled entry plans.

The stranded international ships had to moor either in the Yangtze estuary or Wusongkou. They would not dock until fine weather returns, said port authorities.

Shanghai, the largest port in east China, sees more than 2,000 incoming and outgoing ships every day.

The fog had not affected ferry services between Shanghai city and Chongming islands, port authorities confirmed.

The average visibility around Hengsha, an isle lying to the southeast of Chongming Island in the Yangtze mouth, is 1,000 meters.

The National Meteorological Center predicted more heavy rain in the next three days over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze, and the fog is expected to persist if there is no wind, a port official said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2009)