SHANGHAI - Heavy fog hit Shanghai's Yangshan port Monday morning, reducing visibility and stranding ships, local customs police reported.

Visibility in the port's two channels was reduced to 0.5 and 0.2 nautical miles at around 4:45 am, said an authority of the Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration.

The administration has dispatched workers to guide lost ships and help them anchor in safe areas.

There are 11 international ships stranded in the Shanghai controlled part of the Yangtze river, and 111 Chinese ships had been stopped from entering Yangshan port.

In other related news, an 8-grade strong wind was forecast to hit an area where the Bohai Strait meets the Yellow Sea, near east China's Shandong Province, on Monday, the local weather observatory reported.

The gale could weaken on Tuesday but then turn into a 9-grade wind on Wednesday.

The local observatory warned passing ships to seek a safe port for shelter and dial the rescue hotline 12395 if necessary.

Source: China Daily