Promoting low (zero) carbon development in the shipping industry to better serve the construction of China’s transportation strength
Summit of Building up China’s Shipping Strength 2024 held in Tianjin
Promoting the green and low (zero) carbon development in the shipping industry is an inevitable requirement for implementing the General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions and the Central Committee’s decisions and plans. It is also an inherent requirement for accelerating the construction of a country with strong transportation, and what is more it is an actual practice of fulfilling international obligations. On July 11, the Summit of Building up China’s Shipping Strength 2024, with the theme “Low (Zero) Carbon Development Pathways and Strategies for the Shipping Industry under the Dual-Carbon Goals”, was held in Binhai New Area, Tianjin. The summit was hosted by the China Institution of Navigation, organized by China Waterborne Transport Research Institute and Dalian Maritime University, and co-organized by the China Shipowners Mutual Assurance Association.
He Jianzhong, former Deputy Minister of Ministry of Transport and Chairman of China Institution of Navigation, presided over the Summit. Xie Yuan, Tianjin’s Deputy Mayor, Wu Chungeng, Chief Planner of the Ministry of Transport, and Huang Zhendong, former Minister of Ministry of attended the meeting and delivered speeches. Other attendees included Yang Limin, former Inspector -- General at Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of Ministry of Transport, Weng Mengyong, Gao Hongfeng, Xu Zuyuan -- all former Deputy Ministers at Ministry of Transport were present along with Xu Lirong -- Former Chairman of COSCO Group Ltd., Academician Yan Xinping from Wuhan University of Technology, Li Tianbi -- Former Chief Engineer at the Ministry of Transport, Song Jiahui -- Former Safety Director at the Ministry of Transport. Leaders from Science and Technology Department, Water Transport Bureau, and Maritime Safety Administration of the Ministry of Transport. Over 200 participants, including expert consultants from the China Navigation Think Tank，representatives from port and shipping companies，regulatory agencies, relevant industry associations，as well as researchers from universities and research institutions, attended the summit.
During keynote speeches session, Liu Shubin -- director of China Waterborne Transport Research Institute，Shan Hongjun -- president of Dalian Maritime University, Chu Bin -- chairman of Tianjin Port Group respectively delivered speeches on “Challenges and Measures for Near-Zero Carbon Emission Technologies for Domestic Voyage Ships”，“Scientific and Technological Innovation Empowering the Smart and Green Development of Ports” and “Focusing on Dual-Carbon Goals to Build a World-Class Green Port”.
Liu Shubin suggested that we should focus on advancing the research and development of high-performance, high-energy-density and high-safety power device equipment, building a collaborative platform for technological innovation , and enhancing the new quality productive forces in shipping industry. He also proposed formulating a technology roadmap for near-zero carbon development of ships while accelerating innovative development models. Additionally, he emphasized establishing a management system and incentive policies for supporting facilities for new energy ships while strengthening multi-disciplinary talents cultivation to create a hub of innovative talents in shipping.
In his speech, Shan Hongjun highlighted green ports and smart ports as typical features representing fifth-generation ports. Building technology-intensive and knowledge-intensive smart ports is an inevitable choice for modern port development. He stressed on strengthening regional cooperation and promoting construction of three world-class port clusters around Bohai Ray Rim, Yangtze River Delta, and Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macao Greater Bay Area. Moreover, we should further optimize functional layout of port facilities and the planning of port distribution and transport channels, systematically planning supply system for new and clean energy, strengthening regional cooperation and digital empowerment as well as jointly promoting smart and green coordinated development.
Chairman Chu Bin introduced that in the construction of a shipping strength, Tianjin Port Group has deeply integrated the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality targets into all areas and processes of port development, comprehensively promoting structural adjustments in business, energy, transportation, and space, and implementing a “Three-steps” plan for zero-carbon terminals, zero-carbon port areas, and zero-carbon ports, with a focus on driving Tianjin Port towards green, low-carbon, and standardized development.
During the exchange and speaking session, the think tank experts, department-affiliated units, port and shipping enterprises, and university representatives, as well as leaders of relevant industry associations, express their own views freely, draw on their wisdom, and provided suggestions around the theme of the summit.
Xu Wenqiang, Director of the Department of Science and Technology, emphasized that it is necessary to consider and promote the low-carbon development of shipping in the context of carbon neutrality and global economic development, and to plan a transformation route for emission reduction, cost reduction, efficiency improvement, and transformation routes. He also stressed that innovation is the primary driving force and that technology should better empower the smart and green development of shipping. Guo Qingsong, Deputy Director of the Water Transport Bureau stated that low (or zero) carbon development in shipment should follow three paths: structural carbon reduction, technological carbon reduction, and management carbon reduction. Sun Dabin, Deputy Director of the Maritime Safety Administration, introduced that the Maritime Safety Administration is actively expanding its green industry circle of friends, participating in international negotiations, and promoting pragmatic and reasonable international consensus. It will strengthen institutional safeguards to promote the safe application of new clean energy. In the next step, it will work precisely with industry peers to launch more "China’s Solutions" for shipping decarbonization, boosting the rapid green transformation of the shipping industry. Chief Engineer Li Tianbi suggested that the low-carbon development in the shipping industry should be comprehensively promoted green ports, green ships, green waterways, and green transportation organizations. It is necessary to strengthen technological breakthroughs to form a complete chain system for green fuels, from production, transportation, storage to refueling. Song Jiahui suggested increasing attention and publicity on the Arctic shipping route, tapping into the vast resource potential along the polar route, and boosting the development and utilization of Arctic shipping route resources. Academician Yan Xinping believed that, first, it is necessary to do a good job in the main business, fulfill government supervision and strengthen market management under the greenhouse gas emission targets proposed by the International Maritime Organization(IMO), and plan the channels in advance. Second, it is necessary to cultivate new business models to further promote the green and low-carbon development of shipping. Chairman Xu Lirong called for establishing a multilateral negotiation mechanism among countries, providing policy guidance based on resource endowments and industrial foundations, and effectively coordinating government, research institutions, and enterprises in exploration and research on clean energy applications. Gao Hongfeng believed that in the process of green and smart advancement, it is necessary, attach importance to solving issues related to concepts, systems, mechanisms, and management, and produce the top-level design in a gradual manner. Xu Zuyuan said that the downward trend of the international economy is exerting increasing pressure on port and shipping enterprises, and the pressure on safety and accident management will also increase. He emphasized that, industry competent authorities and enterprises need to pay close attentionto it , secure the bottom line of safety, and create a good business environment. Weng Mengyong pointed out that changes in the current international environment bring great opportunities and challenges to traditional industry chains and supply chains. The shipping industry needs to unswervingly adhere to open, compatible, and international development while effectively avoid various risks in the process.
Wu Chun'gen, representing official of the Ministry of Transport, stated that the formulation of the "15th Five-Year Plan" for water transportation has already begun. The next step will be to accelerate the formation of a modern shipping system with comprehensive functions, high-quality services, openness and integration, and smart and low-carbon development, centering on the goals of building a strong transportation nation and a Beautiful China by 2035. This includes constructing a green shipping facility network; continuously optimizing the structure and vigorously developing railway-waterway transport, ship-to-ship transfer, river-sea shipping, and river-sea transport; actively building a clean and low-carbon industry system, deeply advancing pollution prevention and control efforts, and vigorously carrying out pollution prevention and control in ships and ports; strengthening the upgrading of emission technical standards for operating ships and accelerating the revision of relevant standards.
Xie Yuan, Tianjin’s Deputy Mayor, stated that to create a better business environment, Tianjin will proactively take actions, continue to introduce policies to encourage shipping enterprises to settle down, centering on the functional positioning of building a world-class smart port, green port, and the Northern International Shipping Core Zone. Tianjin will pool strength in talent development, promote the integrated development of the education chain, talent chain, innovation chain, and industrial chain, and provide a solid talent guarantee for the development of the shipping industry.
Former Minister Huang Zhendong emphasized that technological progress is crucial to building up China’s shipping strength. It is necessary to follow a fact-based approach, conduct research based on actual conditions, and make solid progress. He hopes that the China Institute of Navigation will continue to pool all possible forces to, improve the technological level of the industry, and continue to contribute to the realization of the goals of building up China’s shipping strength and transportation strength.
Chairman He Jianzhong expressed in his concluding remarks that achieving the dual carbon goals presents severe challenges. First, it is necessary for maritime technology professionals to enhance their sense of urgency, responsibility, and mission. Second, it is necessary to refine the strategic implementation pathways and strategies, explore and clarify the guidance paths of policies, regulations, and standards, and strengthen government guidance and market dominance. Third, it is necessary to rely on technological progress and innovation and strengthen collaborative cooperation. Fourth, it is necessary to optimize the transportation structure, transform transportation modes, form new business formats, create new models, apply new technologies, enhance new values, promote the development of new productive forces under new requirements, and better play a strategic supporting role in building up China’s shipping strength.