Recently, the“Jianda Sheng”cargo vessel departed from Pingtan Port carrying 4505.8 tons of steel and set course towards Guangzhou.

Following the conclusion of the Chinese New Year celebrations, numerous shipping companies in Pingtan have received new orders. More than 300 cargo vessels have resumed operations and are making a steady comeback, kickstarting the Year of the Rabbit.

Fujian Zhongyang Ocean Co., Ltd has completed three sea shipping orders since it resumed business after the holiday, with five more pending deliveries.

Fujian Zhongyang, which was founded in Pingtan in 2019, specializes in transporting cargo along the Chinese coast. The company's fleet comprises eight cargo vessels with a combined deadweight capacity of more than 60,000 tons. "Our shipments consist of bulk materials such as sand, stone, and steel, and we transport them from Guangzhou in the south to Dalian in the north," said company representative Yao Wenxin. Currently, the company is going at full throttle and securing new contracts. New orders are coming in for the next quarter.

To accelerate work resumption, the local government is conducting surveys over the phone and paying on-site visits to assess the labor demands of enterprises.

"We use intelligent devices such as AIS, CCTV, and drones to improve the efficiency and ensure the safety of vessel navigation,” said Wu Jiang, an official from the Pingtan Maritime Safety Administration.

Many shipping companies are optimistic about the market outlook for this year as anti-Covid-19 policies ease, preparing to capitalize on the opportunity for a strong comeback.

According to the general manager of Pingtan Xinshun Shipping Co., Ltd., Gao Chengmao, 23 cargo ships from their company have recently departed for major ports throughout the country to meet the rising demand for goods and raw materials in the domestic market, following the implementation of measures to manage the Covid-19 outbreak. This surge in demand suggests that there is significant potential for growth in the maritime transportation industry.

Pingtan has a longstanding reputation as China's shipping hub and at its peak, ships owned by Pingtan residents were present in major ports throughout the nation. Regrettably, a majority of these vessels were not registered in Pingtan, resulting in a notable depletion of tax revenue.

Since the establishment of Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone in 2009, Pingtan has introduced stimulus packages to incentivize shipping companies registered outside of Pingtan to return. These packages provide rewards for vessels and shipping companies registered in Pingtan in terms of increased shipping capacity, business scale, operational contributions, and office rental.

Subsequently, the shipping industry in Pingtan has experienced steady growth. Currently, there are 151 registered shipping companies in Pingtan, operating 597 registered vessels with a shipping capacity of 6.21 million deadweight tons, which ranks first in the province according to available data.

Pingtan is now focusing on expanding its presence in the global market. In September of last year, Pingtan launched its international shipowners association, which is the first of its kind in China. The association's objective is to appeal to Chinese shipowners and shipping organizations and encourage them to collaborate on various aspects of the industry chain, such as crew training and ship supplies. The ultimate goal is to create an international shipping ecosystem distinctive to Pingtan.

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