Service measures aim to increase Yangtze River Delta shipping industry

A package of 10 innovative service measures on supporting high-quality integrated development of the shipping industry in the Yangtze River Delta was unveiled on Wednesday.

The measures, with a focus on seafarers, ships and shipping enterprises, are to be introduced to reduce transportation and logistics costs, and improve quality and efficiency, so as to support the high quality and integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region to advance in a broader scope, wider fields and deeper levels, according to E Hailiang, a spokesman for the Maritime Safety Administration of the Ministry of Transport during a news conference held in Shanghai.

The innovative services have paid special attention to the reform and digital enabling to make water transportation across the Yangtze River Delta region more convenient, smoother, safer and greener, as well as providing more convenient and efficient service to the region's maritime services, said E.

Accounting for half of the nation's combined cargo transportation volume by water, the Yangtze River Delta region serves as the nation's major artery in trade home and abroad, and plays a leading role in China's high-quality economic development, explained E.

"Targeting one of China's most dynamic regions with the highest degree of openness and the strongest innovative capability, the measures are tapping into local corporations and people's requirements for highly efficient services," E said.

As part of the ministry's efforts in facilitating maritime service convenience and efficiency, a smart system of maritime supervision and a smart phone application for maritime service were launched on Wednesday.

Thanks to the coordinated efforts of transportation departments across the Yangtze River Delta region, the construction of a world-class port cluster in the region is in good progress, and made evident achievements in serving the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region, said Guo Qingsong, deputy director of the Water Transport Bureau of the Ministry of Transport.

Cargo throughput of the Yangtze River Delta region reached 7.04 billion tons in 2023, along with 110 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers having been handled across the region during the same period, accounting for 41.5 percent and 38.5 percent of the nation's total respectively, according to Guo.

"Chinese ports are in leading positions among global ports for their comprehensive efficiencies," Guo said.

The Shanghai Port has been rated as the world's busiest container port for 14 consecutive years, and the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has maintained its top position in cargo throughput worldwide for 15 years in a row.

A ship energy efficiency management center was launched by the Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration on Wednesday.

The construction and development of the center will help raise the energy efficiency management in China; promote the shipping industry's transition into green, low carbon and intelligent; as well as further enhance Shanghai's status as a global shipping hub, said Cao Jie, spokesman and deputy head of Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration.