Unusually thick sea ice on Laizhou Bay in east China's Shandong Province strands coastal ships.
Zheng Dong, chief meteorologist at the Yantai Marine Environment Monitoring Center under the State Oceanic Administration informs that the ice this year is the worst the area has experienced in three years, and the expanding ice field has expanded to 291 square km and is expected to grow, according to Xinhua.
Local aquafarmers are concerned that the ice is thicker than in years past, which may lead to heavy losses, as the they are unable to penetrate the ice to provide adequate ventilation for sea cucumbers and other aquatic organisms.
Coastal police warn that the ice may cause damage to vessels passing through deeper sea areas near the Bohai and Yellow seas.
Source: Xinhua: Official Chinese News Agency.