On January 13th, the Ocean Alliance 2025 Global Port and Shipping Partnership Conference, themed “Digital Intelligence Connects the Chain, Embracing Green Innovation,” was successfully held in Boao, Hainan. Wan Min, Secretary of the Party Group and Chairman of COSCO Shipping Group, Gu Gang, Vice Governor of the Hainan Provincial People’s Government, He Jianzhong, Chairman of China Institute of Navigation, Xu Lirong, Chairman of the China Shipowners’ Mutual Assurance Association, and Zhang Yanyi, Chairman of Evergreen Marine Corp, attended the event and delivered speeches in succession. The conference brought together representatives from Ocean Alliance (OCEAN ALLIANCE) members, global port and shipping companies, key supply chain partners, industry associations, renowned experts and scholars, among others. Together, they looked ahead to the new future vision for the Ocean Alliance and global port and shipping cooperation, and engaged in in-depth exchanges and discussions on current global shipping trends, port and shipping cooperation trends, the competitiveness of new route products, and other hot topics of concern.
He Jianzhong, the chairman, said in his speech that there are three aspects of the current development trend of the international port and shipping industry that are worthy of high attention and importance. First, we need to deal with uncertainties. The current economic development is facing a very complex and severe situation, and international transportation is also impacted by geopolitical and local war crises. The growth rate of port foreign trade throughput may narrow, and the risks of passage through important international channels and transportation of key supplies will increase. As we are about to enter the “Trump 2.0 era”, the policy uncertainty may be the most concerned. We should see the potential risks and challenges. Second, we need to grasp the new trend of green, low-carbon and intelligent development of the port and shipping industry. At present, alternative fuels and technical routes are in the stage of diversified development, which provides more possibilities for shipowners to modify and replace existing ships. These changes not only bring certain technical challenges, but also open up new space for industry innovation and cooperation. Third, we need to adapt to the digital technology to connect the upstream and downstream industries, supply chains and transportation chains in an integrated and diversified way.
He Jianzhong pointed out that in the face of new challenges brought about by new changes, there are three aspects that the port and shipping industry should focus on and make breakthroughs in the next step of development. First, we need to accelerate the digital upgrading of the port and shipping industry. In the face of the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, the port and shipping industry should seize the historical opportunity of the new technological revolution, vigorously promote the deep integration of digital technology and the port and shipping industry, innovate the port and shipping service platform, change the development model of the port and shipping industry, form new forms of development, improve the new value of shipping, and promote the high-quality development of the port and shipping industry with new productive forces. Second, we need to focus on promoting the green transition of the port and shipping industry. By focusing on the greening of port infrastructure, the facilitation of port and shipping logistics, and strengthening technological research to solve the problems of ships using new energy, we can make precise efforts. Third, we need to solidly promote the intelligent development of the port and shipping industry. First, accelerate the formulation and improvement of intelligent ship regulations and supervision system; Second, build an innovative system for the industrial development of intelligent ships; Third, strengthen the dominant position of enterprise development.
Finally, He Jianzhong said that the China Institute of Navigation is committed to building a maritime science and technology innovation platform that integrates government, industry, academia, research and application, and continuously promotes the realization of high-level self-reliance and strength in maritime technology. It better plays the organizational and platform advantages to promote the high-quality development of the port and shipping industry, serves the members well, and fully reflects the support of serving the national strategy.
At this conference, the Ocean Alliance also launched the DAY9 route product. It also focused on the theme of “Port and Shipping Innovation and Win-win Development” with representatives of global port enterprises, and had in-depth exchanges and reached a consensus on the deepening digital supply chain cooperation, digital intelligence and green low-carbon development of ports and shipping, and issued the “Boao Initiative 2025”. The aim is to join hands to create a broad ecosystem that is more stable, smooth, efficient, green and healthy in the industrial and supply chains, and better help the healthy and sustainable development of the global economy and trade! (Correspondent: Chen Shijun)