On March 6, the Shenzhen Maritime Safety Administration hosted a policy release ceremony at YANTIAN, announcing the launch of a pilot program for regular inspection procedures for container vessels travelling between Yantian Port and Hong Kong/Macau. This initiative represents the first time in China that container vessels will be required to undergo maritime inspections only once, rather than each time they travel.
This significant move not only streamlines vessel operations and port trade but also strengthens the maritime competitiveness of Yantian Port. It marks a crucial and decisive step by port supervisory authorities in advancing the development of the port and shipping industry, while ensuring the smooth flow of logistics within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area.
As one of the world's largest container terminals with a single operator and a key international shipping hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, YANTIAN is strategically located in Shenzhen, serving South China while seamlessly connecting to global markets. It handles over one-third of Guangdong’s international trade imports and exports and accounting for one-quarter of China’s exports to the US. In 2024, YANTIAN’s total container throughput surpassed 15 million TEUs, reflecting a robust year-on-year growth of over 7%.
At the same time, Yantian Port maintains close and dynamic trade ties with Hong Kong and Macau, with a steady flow of container vessels operating between these regions. Notably, feeder services between YANTIAN and Hong Kong have been in operation for more than 31 years, with container volumes consistently rising year after year. In 2024 alone, the volume of laden containers surged by nearly 30%, setting record highs together with the total feeder throughput. However, conventional procedures for inbound and outbound clearance have often been time-consuming and cumbersome, impacting vessel operational efficiency and increasing costs for shipping enterprises.
Rooted in Shenzhen, serving South China, connecting to the world
To tackle this challenge, Shenzhen’s maritime authorities have taken proactive steps to enhance the business environment by conducting extensive research and in-depth analysis. This has catalysed a streamlined mechanism for the regular inspection of China-flagged container vessels travelling between Yantian Port and Hong Kong/Macau. To ensure the seamless rollout of this mechanism, maritime authorities, in collaboration with YANTIAN, hosted a policy release event for container vessel operators and industry professionals engaged in Hong Kong/Macau trade. The event provided a comprehensive breakdown of the new clearance procedures, requirements, and key considerations, equipping stakeholders with the knowledge to fully leverage this efficiency-driven reform.
Traditional inspection model
⚠️ Separate declaration required for each port entry and exit
⚠️ Multiple submissions of various documents
Regular inspection model
✅ If a vessel meets the qualification criteria, only one clearance is needed within a 7-day period
✅ The system automatically links historical data
✅ Fully online, paperless processing
"Previously, vessels travelling between Yantian Port and Hong Kong/Macau required dedicated personnel to spend significant time on declarations. A single vessel making four to five round trips per week had to go through over a dozen declarations and submit dozens of documents. Now, with the regular inspection mechanism, everything can be completed in one go, reducing manpower and time costs by nearly 80%. It’s an incredible improvement," said Li Xiaodong, Shipping Manager at Junli International Shipping Agency Co., Ltd.
The implementation of this regular mechanism at Yantian Port will further enhance its role as a key hub in the Greater Bay Area, ensuring more seamless and efficient container transportation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong/Macau.
Looking ahead, as a pioneer in Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation for over 31 years, YANTIAN will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders to fully leverage the world-class land, air, and sea transportation networks connecting the two regions, along with YANTIAN’s extensive rail network. These collective efforts will drive greater “hard connectivity” in infrastructure, “soft connectivity” in regulations and mechanisms, and “people-to-people connectivity” across the region, fostering deeper integration and synergy.
YANTIAN remains committed to advancing shipping and logistics cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, capitalising on their complementary strengths to further expand feeder traffic between Yantian Port and Hong Kong. This initiative will not only support Shenzhen’s drive to become a globally influential logistics hub but also reinforce Hong Kong’s status as an international shipping and trade centre. Through these joint efforts, the Greater Bay Area’s global competitiveness will be further elevated, contributing to China’s “dual carbon” goals and the high-quality development of international trade.