The maritime shipping sector is responsible for over 95% of China's international trade, with seafarers serving as the backbone of this vital industry.
Recent data from the Maritime Safety Administration under the Ministry of Transport reveals a consistent expansion in the size of China's seafaring workforce. By the end of last year, the number of registered seafarers nationwide had reached 2.08 million, securing the top global position with a year-on-year growth of 2.6%. Over the course of the year, 185,000 Chinese seafarers were dispatched to work on foreign vessels, marking an 11.5% increase and setting a new high for recent years in the scale of overseas assignments.
June 25th this year marks the sixteenth annual Day of the Seafarer. We take a closer look at the experiences of three seafarers, each working in different maritime zones and roles, who are active participants and witnesses to the vigorous growth of China's shipping industry.
Captain Cheng Yanhai of the 'COSCO Shipping Peony' – Sailing Approximately 950,000 Nautical Miles Over 17 Years, Witnessing 'Made in China' Reaching the World
On the shores of the East China Sea, a gentle sea breeze blows. As morning light pierces the thin mist, the silhouette of the large container vessel 'COSCO Shipping Peony' gradually comes into focus.
"Prepare for docking!" From the bridge, Captain Cheng Yanhai issues the command, and the ship begins adjusting its speed and heading. Accompanied by the deep, steady hum of the main engine, this vessel, having traversed the vast Pacific Ocean on a 15-day non-stop voyage, slowly maneuvers into its berth at the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, the world's largest port by cargo tonnage.
Thanks to the "Container Shipping Punctuality and Cost Reduction" initiative launched by the Zhejiang maritime authorities, Captain Cheng obtained the complete docking plan in advance via the Maritime Connect app, allowing him to maintain an economical speed and avoid unnecessary waiting for a berth.
Leveraging the port's sophisticated intelligent operating system, 1,426 import containers from North America were efficiently unloaded and rapidly distributed to major cities via the extensive road network. Simultaneously, a batch of products "Made in Yiwu" arrived at the port for loading, seamlessly transferred through sea-rail intermodal transport.
Approximately 37 hours later, with a blast of the ship's horn, the 'COSCO Shipping Peony' cast off and set sail once more. Captain Cheng recorded the departure time in the ship's log, steered the vessel out of the main channel, and set course to deliver its 2,795 containers of cargo across the ocean.
This cycle of voyages, departing and returning with the rhythm of day and night, laden with diverse goods and navigating the vast seas, constitutes the daily routine of 52-year-old "Old Captain" Cheng. Within his thick logbooks, the tracks of numerous journeys gradually weave a dense network – over 17 years at sea, he has called at over a hundred ports, left his footprint in more than 40 countries and regions, transported nearly 4.6 million tons of cargo, and sailed approximately 950,000 nautical miles.
Living on ships and traveling the world's oceans, Captain Cheng has personally experienced and witnessed the leapfrog development of China's maritime shipping.
Vessels are becoming greener. From ultra-large container ships to LNG carriers and pure electric vessels, China's pace of green and intelligent transformation in shipbuilding is accelerating, with the scale of various new energy and clean vessels operating at sea and on inland waterways now ranking among the world's leaders. In February this year, the 'COSCO Shipping Peony' under his command successfully completed its conversion to methanol dual-fuel power.
Cargo is becoming more diverse. Aboard Captain Cheng's ship, one finds not only traditional goods but also a growing proportion of high-value-added commodities, exemplified by the "new three" categories (referring to electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and solar cells), indicating an accelerated upgrade in the structure of cargo products.
Ports are becoming more efficient. The winds of intelligence are sweeping through port terminals, continuously lifting loading and unloading efficiency. These increasingly smart Chinese ports ensure the smooth global reach of "Made in China" products, serving as a robust support for stabilizing industrial and supply chains.
Chen Baiquan, Marine Pilot at Fujian's Quanzhou Port – Navigating Through Thick Fog and Battling Giant Waves, Safely Guiding Over a Thousand Domestic and International Vessels In and Out of Port
"Quanzhou Maritime Traffic Control, Pilot No. 23 has boarded the 'Oriental Qingchun', reporting to you!"
At Fujian's Quanzhou Port, a call over the VHF radio cuts through the sea breeze. Following the entry instruction issued by the Quanzhou Maritime Safety Administration, the vessel begins the "final kilometer" of its journey into the harbor.
Who is "Pilot No. 23"?
This is the call sign for marine pilot Chen Baiquan. As the port's specialized "maritime chauffeur," pilots are responsible for guiding vessels in and out of ports and during berthing/unberthing operations, often referred to as the "first image of the nation on the water."
On July 20th last year, shortly after a typhoon warning was lifted, with huge swells of 3 to 4 meters still rolling on the sea surface, Chen Baiquan received the order for the vessel to dock. He embarked on a pilot boat heading towards the foreign container ship 'Oriental Qingchun'.
At that moment, dusk was approaching. A pilot ladder over 7 meters high hung down the side of the 210-meter-long giant vessel. The wind and waves caused the ship's hull to heave up and down violently. The pilot boat struggled to maintain position alongside the large ship, with the gap between the two vessels at constant risk of sudden narrowing and crushing. Fixing his eyes on the rhythm of the swells, Chen Baiquan seized the moment as the pilot boat rose, grabbed the slippery pilot ladder with both hands, and climbed swiftly. After several attempts, he finally boarded the ship and commenced the pilotage operation.
This marked Chen Baiquan's 1,430th safe pilotage. He is now in his thirteenth year of independent piloting. "A ship's captain may be an expert in navigating ocean routes, but may not be familiar with the waters of a specific port. Narrow channels, tidal currents, and operational restrictions at the dock can all be major obstacles. We, who are deeply rooted in our local ports year-round, serve as a crucial safeguard for the safe arrival and departure of these giant vessels," Chen Baiquan explained. While pilotage operations are now digitally recorded with all operational data retained online in real-time, he still insists on reviewing key parameters such as tides, wind direction, vessel type, and operational adjustments after each assignment, meticulously analyzing the entire piloting process.
The system of compulsory pilotage not only provides safety assurance for shipping but is also a significant manifestation of national pilotage sovereignty. Many countries worldwide require foreign vessels entering and leaving their ports to accept compulsory pilotage and explicitly stipulate that the pilots must be their own citizens.
This has fostered a unique contingent within the seafaring community. Along China's vast coastline stretching for thousands of miles, over 2,400 pilots, 47 pilotage organizations, 35 pilot stations, and more than 160 specialized pilot boats form a modern pilotage network. This network covers over 2,500 coastal berths capable of handling vessels of 10,000 deadweight tons and above, assisting approximately 400,000 vessel movements in and out of seaports annually.
"From individual pilots operating from single boats, to the comprehensive establishment of modern pilot stations and professional pilot vessels, China's pilotage industry has completed a journey from initial exploration to standardization, specialization, and intelligentization in recent years," stated a relevant official from the China Pilotage Association. The next steps will involve continuously improving the pilot management system to better facilitate the movement of foreign trade vessels along rivers and seas, thereby smoothing the links in global trade.
Zuo Shanshan, Cruise Attendant on the 'Adora Magic City' – Over a Decade in the Cruise Industry, Serving More Than 150,000 Passengers
A single voyage, three days and two nights at sea, serving over 4,000 guests... This is the service record sheet delivered by seafarer Zuo Shanshan and her team on a cruise ship.
On June 6th, at the T2 boarding hall of the Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal, thousands of passengers boarded the domestically built large cruise ship 'Adora Magic City', embarking on the nation's first "nowhere cruise" – a voyage with no port of call.
Unlike the traditional cruise model that requires "mandatory departure from the country and a port call," under the "nowhere cruise" model, the ship departs from a domestic home port, cruises entirely in international waters without calling at any ports, and finally returns to the original port.
This new sailing model presents fresh challenges for maritime service provision. With the cruise ship transforming from a mode of transport into the destination itself, where passengers' dining, leisure, and entertainment activities are all concentrated onboard, managing passenger flow and ensuring safety control become top priorities.
"Activities like stand-up comedy, magic shows, and themed parties keep guests thoroughly entertained, while public areas such as restaurants, theatres, and decks maintain high passenger traffic throughout the day," said Zuo Shanshan. As a Guest Relations Manager, she provides detailed guidance on movement routes for elderly guests and families with children. Simultaneously, during peak periods like meal times and after shows conclude, she strengthens on-site guidance to ensure a prompt response and handling of any issues that may arise.
"The experience exceeded expectations," "truly unforgettable"... Despite the intense work rhythm, order was maintained smoothly throughout the ship. Upon disembarkation, many passengers praised the service provided by Zuo Shanshan and her colleagues. "Unlike seafarers on cargo ships, our job is to serve passengers at sea, enabling more of the general public to enjoy cruise life," she remarked. Since first entering the cruise industry in 2012, starting as a pastry chef in the kitchen, then progressing to roles as a restaurant supervisor and front desk customer service agent, Zuo Shanshan has step by step grown into her position as Guest Relations Manager, having served a cumulative total of over 150,000 passengers.
Over this past decade-plus, China's cruise economy has experienced rapid development.
The market scale has steadily expanded. After more than a decade of growth, China has become the world's second-largest cruise market. In 2025, cruise passenger transport volume reached 1.301 million, a year-on-year increase of 25.7%. Shanghai Port, where Zuo Shanshan's ship is regularly based, hosted 230 international cruise ship calls last year, welcoming over 1.75 million passengers.
The domestic industry is growing rapidly. From the official maiden voyage of the first domestically built large cruise ship, the 'Adora Magic City', to the planned commencement of operations for the second domestically built large cruise ship, the 'Adora Huacheng', in November this year, Chinese-built cruise ships are becoming a shining "floating maritime name card." Since its launch, the 'Adora Magic City', which Zuo Shanshan serves on, has completed over 200 voyages smoothly, cumulatively serving more than one million guests, with its service capacity and industry influence continuing to rise.
"Currently, China's cruise economy has entered a new phase of development characterized by a strong rebound. Leveraging policy support, route innovation, and upgrades in domestic service, a cruise tourism and cultural industry system with Chinese characteristics is being accelerated," stated a relevant official from the Maritime Safety Administration. International seafarers and cruise attendants, as key personnel in cruise service, will polish the reputation of Chinese cruise services with their professional dedication and high-quality service, contributing to the continuous enhancement and increased efficiency of the cruise economy.
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