To further advance Shenzhen's vision of becoming a global marine centre and accelerate the green, low-carbon transformation of the shipping industry, YANTIAN and the Shenzhen Yantian Maritime Safety Administration recently signed the 2026 Action Plan for Deepening Collaborative High-Quality Development. Anchored in the principles of "efficiency integration, port-shipping synergy, and quality enhancement for mutual benefit," the two sides have rolled out ten targeted and pragmatic initiatives. These measures are designed to elevate port operational efficiency, reduce overall logistics costs, strengthen core competitiveness, and deliver a more efficient, greener, and smarter port service experience for global shipping customers.

As the key administrative authority serving the port and shipping economy, the Shenzhen Yantian Maritime Safety Administration joins forces with YANTIAN—one of the world's largest single container terminals—under a newly established framework for government-enterprise collaboration. Through technology empowerment and service optimisation, the partnership will further enhance port logistics efficiency and support the transformation of YANTIAN into a safe, intelligent, seamless, and green world-class shipping hub.

The agreement was signed by Guo Jing, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the Shenzhen Yantian Maritime Safety Administration (front row, first from left), and Peng Zhihong, Logistics Director of YANTIAN (front row, first from right). The ceremony was witnessed by Cao Jie, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of Shenzhen Maritime Safety Administration (second row, fifth from left), Lawrence Shum, Managing Director of Hutchison Ports YANTIAN (second row, fifth from right), and other distinguished leaders, followed by a commemorative group photo.

Driving efficiency, empowering performance: Elevating core port operations

Placing operational efficiency of shipping enterprises at the centre, the two sides will optimise port workflows across multiple dimensions to deliver measurable cost savings and productivity gains for these enterprises. In March 2025, the Shenzhen Maritime Safety Administration pioneered a pilot program in YANTIAN introducing the "Regularised Entry and Exit Clearance Procedures for Chinese-Flag Container Vessels Operating Between Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong/Macau." This initiative marks China's first implementation of regular maritime inspection procedures tailored specifically for container vessels, transforming the previous "clearance required for every voyage" model into a streamlined "periodic one-time processing" mechanism. The reform has boosted vessel clearance efficiency by 80%, substantially reducing the compliance burden on port and shipping enterprises while further enhancing the port's business environment and service competitiveness.

Green leadership: Advancing a global low-carbon shipping ecosystem

In response to the accelerating global transition toward green and low-carbon shipping, both sides are jointly advancing the development of a sustainable maritime ecosystem. With continued breakthroughs in green fuel bunkering, they are embedding sustainability principles more deeply into port operations. Most recently, through close coordination, YANTIAN achieved two major milestones within just eight days: the innovative launch of LNG bunkering at anchorage and the first green methanol bunkering operation in the Greater Bay Area. As the first hub port in South China equipped with LNG bunkering capabilities—and the first terminal nationwide to conduct simultaneous LNG bunkering for two vessels—YANTIAN has effectively balanced development and safety, providing robust safeguards for the secure operation of green- fuelled vessels.

Facilitating seamless navigation: Elevating Comprehensive maritime service efficiency

Driven by innovation, the two sides will jointly promote the high-quality development of port and shipping operations, with a clear focus on enhancing navigational service efficiency. Through coordinated advancement of key initiatives, continuous optimisation of navigation-related service systems, and strengthened supporting safeguard mechanisms, they will further expand port-shipping business capacity and improve overall navigational efficiency, injecting sustained momentum into the port's high-quality growth.

Strengthening safeguards: Reinforcing port safety and environmental protection

Both sides will work in close coordination to reinforce safety and environmental protection across the port area, building a comprehensive and multi-layered security framework. With particular emphasis on dangerous goods management and policy outreach, they will proactively mitigate operational risks and ensure safe, orderly port operations. In earlier efforts, the two sides jointly organised multiple safety awareness and policy promotion programs. Through regulatory briefings and case-based analysis, they enhanced safety literacy, standardised operational procedures, and advanced a full-chain safety governance framework—ensuring that every vessel call at YANTIAN is conducted with greater assurance and reliability.

The signing of these collaborative initiatives marks a significant milestone in deepening port-shipping synergy between YANTIAN and the Shenzhen Yantian Maritime Safety Administration. More importantly, it represents a concrete commitment to supporting global maritime development and advancing Shenzhen’s vision of becoming a global marine centre.

Looking ahead, YANTIAN will continue to work hand in hand with the Shenzhen Yantian Maritime Safety Administration to ensure the effective implementation of each initiative. By continuously enhancing service capabilities, improving operational efficiency, and fostering innovative service models, YANTIAN will partner with global shipping lines to achieve mutual success, further strengthening its position as one of the world's most competitive container terminals and contributing to China's development as a leading transportation and maritime power.