China’s maritime industry is improving efficiency in shipping logistics, and is achieving some important firsts along the way. On June 23 the container ship Yuanhai Zeda became the first vessel in China to complete its registration using a ship technical parameter certificate instead of the traditional bulky paper inspection documents. The process of registering the 15,000-metric-ton vessel, which would have previously taken days, took less than a day to complete. The swift registration is an example of reforms driven by the Hainan International Ship Registration Authority, which has embraced digitalization and innovative policy changes. By slashing required paperwork from 32 documents down to 15 and fully digitizing the approval process, registration efficiency has soared by over 60%, said Li Fangcao, a staff member in the registration service department.
“It’s like using an electronic ID instead of paper documents,” Li said, adding that the entire application can be submitted online, which saves companies significant time and costs. On April 9, another vessel, Shengchang 777, submitted its paperwork in the morning and had received 18 certificates by the afternoon. Thanks to cross-department collaboration and the streamlined system, foreign ship re-registrations that once took 30 days now require just a single day. Cai Yinghong, Director of the Hainan International Ship Registration Authority, said, “Our goal is to build an internationally aligned ship registration service system.” Cai noted Hainan has pioneered several nationwide firsts, including a unified ship registration system covering the entire island, a two-level review process for international ship registrations, and a temporary ship ownership registration system. These innovations have increased the efficiency of ship registration by over 90%. The implementation of a “non-stop certification” service has allowed vessels to complete certification without interrupting their voyages, resulting in annual savings exceeding CNY1 million per ship.
At Ningbo Zhoushan Port, one of the world’s busiest cargo hubs in Zhejiang province, China is demonstrating its commitment to maritime safety and environmental protection through a process called Port State Control (PSC). According to Jin Tianqi, Deputy Director of the Security Inspection Center at the Ningbo Maritime Safety Administration, the Ningbo Maritime Bureau has intensified PSC enforcement efforts, conducting approximately 400 inspections annually within its jurisdiction. “Through scientific scheduling and random checks, a dynamic supervision mechanism focused on high-risk vessels has been established. This approach has significantly improved the overall technical condition of incoming ships and effectively reduced the risk of major maritime accidents,” Jin said. These efforts have effectively reduced maritime accidents and cultivated a market environment rewarding well-managed ships. Digital technologies are rapidly being integrated into PSC practices. Some ports across China have begun deploying drones to inspect ship hulls and using smart terminals to collect on-site data, boosting enforcement efficiency and transparency. These innovations point to the future direction of PSC systems worldwide.
The Haikou Maritime Safety Administration, which manages the Qiongzhou Strait, a critical shipping channel linking the South China Sea to domestic markets, has introduced an electronic approval system allowing foreign vessels to pass without submitting physical paperwork. Foreign ships can upload their application documents via the Strait Transit Management Information System, where they are routed to the appropriate approval channels. Relying on this digital platform, maritime officials can provide uninterrupted, year-round service. This “online submission, online approval” model has drastically shortened the approval period, from what once took several working days to just a matter of hours.
As a result, the turnaround time for vessels has significantly improved, reducing both time and operational costs for international shipping companies, and ensuring the efficient operation of the Qiongzhou Strait as a major transportation artery. Once a foreign vessel’s transit application is approved, Haikou Maritime activates a “one-stop” safety information notification mechanism.
China’s maritime cruise sector is also spearheading green transformation, with Guangzhou’s Pearl River night cruise industry standing out. As of July, over 1.7 million visitor trips have been made on the river’s battery-powered, zero emission vessels, making Guangzhou a global leader in eco-friendly urban water tourism. The Pearl River East Channel – a historic waterway renowned for its scenic night cruises – is being transformed into a zero-emission demonstration zone, highlighting how environmental upgrades can go hand in hand with urban tourism. The river section has been designated a key emission control zone.
China’s maritime achievements are already impressive: it operates the world’s largest ocean fleet, hosts the most extensive network of world-class ports and handles nearly one-third of global maritime cargo, the China Daily reports.
