(Photo by Hainan Daily)

According to a report made at the Hainan Maritime Safety Agency Free Trade Port Development Work Service Meeting, in 2020 the Hainan Maritime Safety Agency  established a port of registry at the “China Yangpu Port”, completing the registration of 22 ships and increasing international shipping capacity by 3,551,000 tons. Of China’s dozen or so free trade zones, Hainan ranked #1 in both registration of international ships and overall tonnage. Hainan put into effect the “One-stop Handling” service method for government affairs, creating a fast, convenient “Hainan Method” of ship registration. The province also consolidated the previous several required shipping credentials into one document, substantially simplifying the registration process and reducing the time required for approval by nearly 82%. A further new “3 in 1” policy makes it more convenient for bonded oil to pass customs. 

The goal of creating a leading world-class Maritime Affairs Special Region was also a topic of the meeting. In 2021, Hainan’s Maritime Affairs Department plans to put even more high-level, flexible maritime affairs management mechanism into operation, exploring the appointment of a chief maritime affairs expert, organizing a high-end maritime affairs think tank, creating a more scientific, rational talent safeguard mechanism, building a more open, comprehensive maritime affairs legislation system, exploring a more efficient, convenient, and fast management system, and creating a more advanced, smart equipment safeguard system. 

At the same time, the Hainan Maritime Affairs Department also plans to strongly promote international registration system reform, maritime affairs management system  and management capability transformation, the implementation of a more open and efficient shipping inspection system, the construction of a Hainan Free Trade Port ship personnel management system, the creation of a new western land-sea passage with excellent service, and the  modernization of the maritime affairs management system and management capability in order to provide strong support for the acceleration of the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port.