The situation for Shangdong Peninsula is not encouraging. Data from State Oceanic Administration shows that two thirds of Laizhou Bay is covered by sea ice, more than six thousand square kilometers. The floating ice is 39 sea miles from shore, which has stranded many vessels with lighter weight limits. To ensure the smooth sailing of customs, staff from Laizhou Border Checkpoint are adopting a mobile work ethic. Everyday they go to anchored vessels on their ice-breaking boat to reduce the waiting time.

Beside sea transport, the vast ice has also taken a toll on the fishing industry and sea farming. It has forced farmers to step up ice breaking efforts to mitigate the damage.

Zhu Jianhai, farmer in Yantai, said, "Due to the extreme low temperature, ice this year is very thick and is not melting. We have to break the ice to circulate the sea water in order to ensure the growth of the fishing industry."

According to the weather forecasts, the cold front will continue over the days to come, and Laizhou Bay and northern part of the Yellow Sea could get the worst sea ice in a century. It's hoped that the authorities' warnings don't go unheeded and sailors and fishermen continue to work in safety.

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