A pilot scheme is underway in China in which internationally-flagged vessels can work the Chinese coastal trades. The Chinese Ministry of Transport has begun a pilot programme to partially open up China’s coastal trade.
Eligible foreign vessels, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region will be allowed to take part in the pilot programme which will involve vessels trading between Dalian Port, Tianjin Port, and Qingdao Port. The Yangshan Port Area of Shanghai Port serving as international transhipment port.
The pilot programme commenced on 18 November 2021 (the date the Reply of the State Council was published) and will end on 31 December 2024.
Criteria for taking part in the trial include:
- participating vessels must be intercontinental ships operating on main routes
- cargo must be container cargo carried with “through bills of lading”; and
- principle of reciprocity must be met i.e. Chinese companies are to be accorded equivalent rights to participate in the coastal trade of the place of operation and control of the applicant liner company, and of the country/region where the vessel is registered.
Ships that do not comply with the requirements and which have not been issued with an Approval Letter by the Chinese Ministry of Transport are forbidden from carrying container cargo between Chinese ports.
