On the morning of December 29, the Shenzhen International Ship Registration Service Center—the first comprehensive ship registration service platform co-built by central and local authorities in China—was officially established in Qianhai. Wang Shourui, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Qianhai and Director of the Qianhai Authority; Chan Yaodong, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government; Cao Jie, Director of Shenzhen Maritime Safety Administration; as well as representatives from over 40 institutions and enterprises including the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, China Classification Society and China Merchants Energy Shipping Co., Ltd., attended the inauguration ceremony.
In his speech, Chan Yaodong stated that Shenzhen attaches great importance to the development, reform and innovation of the shipping industry, and has included the official operation of the International Ship Registration Center in the Top 10 Work Plans for 2025 to accelerate its advancement. The completion and operation of the center not only fill the gap in Shenzhen’s quality assurance for international ships and registration of offshore facilities, but also build a high-level platform that can carry urban strategies, gather global elements and serve the development of the Greater Bay Area.
Cao Jie noted in his address that the establishment of the Shenzhen International Ship Registration Service Center in Qianhai is an inevitable requirement for implementing the national major strategies such as expanding the opening-up of the shipping industry and accelerating the building of a transportation power. It is also an important measure for Shenzhen to promote the high-quality development of the shipping economy, and a key layout for Qianhai to deepen the institutional opening-up of the modern shipping service industry, bearing important and far-reaching significance.
It is reported that in 2020, the state launched the Shenzhen Comprehensive Reform Pilot Program, and the “deepening of the international ship registration system reform” was included in the first batch of authorization lists. In 2021, the Qianhai Scheme clearly expanded the reform into “the reform of international ship registration and supporting systems”. In 2023, the Qianhai Plan required Qianhai to link up with Hong Kong to build a high-end shipping service center, explore the inclusion of marine equipment and offshore facilities in the registration scope, and study the establishment of an international ship registration service platform. The Shenzhen Special Economic Zone International Ship Regulations implemented in 2024 proposed that “the municipal people’s government, together with the maritime administrative authority, shall promote the establishment of an international ship registration center in Qianhai”.
A relevant person in charge of the Key Area Development Department of the Qianhai Authority said that the establishment of the International Ship Registration Service Center in Shenzhen is not only the implementation of national arrangements, but also an inherent need for building a global ocean center city. Ships, crew, marine equipment and offshore facilities are among the key elements connecting global marine resources and activating the momentum of the marine industry and shipping economy. As a national strategic platform, Qianhai will explore a new path in deepening the reform of international ship registration and supporting systems, and play a leading and exemplary role.
With the strong support of Shenzhen Maritime Safety Administration, the “Qianhai China” port of registry set sail from scratch in December 2024 and achieved rapid development. In 2025, it added 18 ships, with a total of 20 ships, a gross tonnage of 580,000 tons and a total value of 5.8 billion yuan. The ship types cover ro-ro ships, methanol bunkering ships, bulk carriers, oil tankers, refrigerated ships, crane ships and other types, and the fleet size has ranked among the top three in China for the first time. The ship operators include not only large shipping companies such as COSCO Shipping Bulk and China Merchants Rollo, but also financial shipowners such as CCS Leasing and CDB Leasing.
After the inauguration ceremony, the Qianhai Authority, together with Shenzhen Maritime Safety Administration and Shenzhen Marine Bureau, held a seminar on “Deepening the Reform of International Ship Registration and Supporting Systems”. Institutions and enterprises including the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, China Classification Society, China Shipowners Mutual Assurance Association, Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, Shenzhen Ocean Promotion Association, China Merchants Energy Shipping Co., Ltd., Guangdong Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. and Zhonghe Qingneng Co., Ltd. conducted in-depth discussions and put forward constructive suggestions.