On July 11, China launched its 21st National Navigation Day and the national observance of World Maritime Day with a forum in Qionghai, Hainan, under the theme “Green Navigation, to the New Picture.”
The event, marking 20 years since the founding of China Navigation Day, doubled as a state-of-the-industry address. The Ministry of Transport invoked Ming Dynasty mariner Zheng He’s voyages and the legacy of China’s invention of the magnetic compass to frame the country’s modern maritime ambitions: smarter ships, greener ports, and expanded global coordination. “The sea is vast, and the dream is vast,” the statement read.
China now conducts 95% of its foreign trade by sea and boasts the world’s largest shipbuilding, cargo throughput, and marine economic output, which exceeded ¥10 trillion in 2024. Yet the organizers emphasized the need for more: intelligent dispatch systems, AI-powered navigation, low-carbon vessels, and blockchain-enabled logistics.
They also called for a “whole-chain green shipping system” and urged the development of “inclusive and cooperative” maritime culture. As geopolitical tides shift and the maritime economy digitizes, the statement anchored its vision in continuity: “Strive forward, stick to the original intention… and embark on a new path.”
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Category: Sustainable Marine Fuels
