World's largest trading nation moves toward more sustainable logistics via digitalization, new energy

China's maritime industry is embracing digitalization in order to improve efficiency in shipping logistics, and is achieving some important firsts along the way.

Backed by recent policy reforms, a push to expand digitalization, the country's greater environmental goals and more international cooperation, 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.

What's more, 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 percent, said Li Fangcao, a staff member in the registration service department.

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"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 percent, he said. The implementation of a "non-stop certification" service has allowed vessels to complete certification without interrupting their voyages, resulting in annual savings exceeding one million yuan ($139,000) per ship.

Safety first

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 robust Port State Control.

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.

Swift passage

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.

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Once a foreign vessel's transit application is approved, Haikou Maritime activates a "one-stop" safety information notification mechanism. A letter addressed to the ship's captain consolidates key navigational data for the Qiongzhou Strait. This includes not only the mandatory traffic separation scheme and general maritime traffic regulations, but also detailed, practical information such as shallow areas and tidal patterns within the strait.

For vessels with deep drafts, Haikou Maritime provides additional services, including real-time depth monitoring data for critical shallow zones and tailored routing recommendations. These resources enable vessels to plan safe routes in advance based on their specific draft conditions.

With access to this precise information, ship operators can optimize voyage planning, assign crew shifts accordingly, and conduct checks on emergency equipment in advance.

This mechanism has proved highly effective, ensuring the safe passage of 22,600 foreign vessels through the Qiongzhou Strait over the past three years, while significantly mitigating the risks of grounding or stranding, according to the administration.

Green cruises

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 famed 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.

According to Zhang Ruijie, deputy captain of a maritime patrol team of the Guangzhou Inland Port Maritime Office, the river section has been designated a key emission control zone.

"We've continued to strengthen air pollution prevention for night cruise vessels," he said. "After our interventions, fuel sampling tests on all Pearl River cruise vessels reached a 100 percent compliance rate last year."

He added that the use of high-quality fuel has significantly reduced shipborne air pollution.

To further lower emissions, shore power is being promoted. "We encourage vessels to use shore power while docked to reduce pollution from onboard generators," Zhang said.

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Local authorities have also mandated onboard wastewater storage tanks for all cruise vessels, sealed discharge valves and upgraded reception facilities at terminals. Crews can report wastewater disposal needs through a mobile app, allowing terminals to schedule and process waste for onshore treatment. These measures have enabled the Pearl River East Channel to achieve major reductions in both water and air pollution.

In tandem with infrastructure upgrades, Guangzhou is embracing new energy vessels. Battery-powered ships with zero emissions, low noise and lower operating costs, account for a quarter of all cruise vessels in the Pearl River East Channel. That proportion is expected to rise to one-third by the end of the year, as four new electric cruise ships enter service.

As many as 1.1 million tourists will board cruises in Guangzhou this summer, according to the maritime office, with operators planning to build around 30 additional green vessels in the coming years.

Vision for the future

"Shipping is the lifeline of foreign trade," said Yang Huaxiong, director of the Water Transport Bureau at the Ministry of Transport, at a news conference in June. "As the world's largest trading nation, a strong maritime sector is vital to building China into a maritime, shipping and trading power."

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. As these milestones grow, China's maritime economy is set to remain a vital engine of global trade and sustainable development for years to come.

Yang outlined a five-point roadmap: building a world-class oceangoing fleet, upgrading port infrastructure, improving service quality, promoting green and smart maritime transformation, and enhancing international cooperation.

"We must accelerate new energy vessel adoption, develop clean shipping corridors, and integrate AI, big data, and blockchain into maritime operations," he said, emphasizing the importance of global collaboration on green initiatives and governance.

As China steers its maritime sector toward a greener, smarter future, it's also charting a course for sustainable growth that balances economic progress with environmental care and human well-being.

Contact the writer at luowangshu@chinadaily.com.cn