AI Powers Shipping Industry's Action Plan

China has rolled out an action plan to accelerate the deep integration of cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, into the shipping industry and foster the growth of new quality productive forces in the shipping sector.

The plan, jointly issued by the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council and the State Administration for Market Regulation, outlines the general requirements, key tasks, and support measures for intelligent shipping development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

The plan lays out a two-phase development roadmap with clear targets:

By 2027, China aims to achieve deep integration of AI and the shipping sector, make breakthroughs in key technologies, establish over three comprehensive intelligent shipping pilot zones and more than five pilot routes, and put more than 100 intelligent ships into commercial operation.

By 2030, the country is expected to fully incorporate core technologies, form a new coordinated development model covering technology, industry, and governance, and elevate China's intelligent shipping development to an internationally advanced level.

Industry insiders believe the release of the plan marks a new stage of systematic advancement in China's intelligent shipping sector. It not only provides systematic solutions to the bottlenecks hindering development but also offers strong momentum and solid support for building China into a transportation powerhouse by 2035. Furthermore, it will enable China's shipping industry to transition from "keeping pace" to "taking the lead" in the global wave of intelligent transformation.

To achieve its goals, the plan systematically deploys 11 key tasks across four areas: technological equipment breakthroughs, empowering application pilots, upgrading infrastructure, and enhancing regulatory governance.

In the future, regions such as the Yangtze River Delta, the Pinglu Canal, and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal will be selected for the key tasks, as well as typical transportation routes including north-south coastal routes and inland waterway network routes, according to Chen Deli, deputy director-general of the Maritime Safety Administration of the Ministry of Transport. Chen added that a batch of comprehensive pilot zones, pilot routes, and pilot ships will also be designated for remote control and autonomous navigation applications, to promote the large-scale development of intelligent shipping.

Currently, there are 60 automated ports in China, with the country maintaining a global lead in smart port construction. In addition, construction of smart waterways is accelerating, with national electronic navigational charts coverage now exceeding 10,000 kilometers.

Meanwhile, the application of blockchain technology in port electronic cargo release and maritime electronic bills of lading is continuously expanding, laying a strong foundation for the future development of intelligent shipping.

Source: Science and Technology Daily