The maritime shipping industry handles over 95% of China's international trade, with seafarers serving as the backbone of this vital sector. The latest data from the Maritime Safety Administration reveals a consistent expansion in the nation's seafarer workforce. By the end of last year, the number of registered seafarers in China reached 2.08 million, solidifying its position as the world's largest, marking a year-on-year increase of 2.6%. Throughout the year, 185,000 seafarers were dispatched on international assignments, an 11.5% rise and a record high in recent years. June 25th this year marks the sixteenth World Seafarer Day. We take a closer look at three seafarers working in different seas and roles, who are both participants in and witnesses to the vigorous growth of China's maritime industry.
Captain Cheng Yanhai of the "COSCO Shipping Peony" – Navigating Approximately 950,000 Nautical Miles Over 17 Years, Witnessing the Global Reach of "Made in China"
On the coast of the East China Sea, a sea breeze gently blows. As dawn light pierces the morning mist, the silhouette of the "COSCO Shipping Peony" gradually comes into focus. "Prepare for docking!" In the ship's bridge, Captain Cheng Yanhai issues the command, and the vessel begins adjusting its speed and course. Accompanied by the deep, steady hum of the main engine, this large container ship, having traversed the vast Pacific Ocean on a 15-day non-stop voyage, slowly berths at the world's largest port, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port.
Benefiting from the "Container Shipping Punctuality and Cost-Reduction" initiative launched by Zhejiang's maritime authorities, Captain Cheng obtained the complete berthing plan in advance via the Maritime Connect app, allowing him to control the economic speed and avoid unnecessary waiting. Leveraging the port's mature intelligent operation system, 1,426 imported containers from North America were efficiently unloaded and swiftly distributed to major cities via the extensive road network. Simultaneously, a batch of "Made in Yiwu" goods arrived at the port and were loaded onto the ship through seamless 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, maneuvered the vessel out of the main channel, and set course to deliver 2,795 containers of cargo across the ocean. This cycle of departure and return, day after day, carrying diverse cargoes across the vast seas, is the daily routine of 52-year-old "Old Captain" Cheng. His thick logbooks trace a gradually densifying web of voyages—over 17 years at sea, he has called at over a hundred ports, left his mark in more than 40 countries and regions, transported nearly 4.6 million tons of cargo, and sailed approximately 950,000 nautical miles.
With the ship as his home, traversing the seas, Captain Cheng has personally experienced and witnessed the leapfrog development of China's maritime shipping: greener ship types, from ultra-large container ships to LNG carriers and pure electric vessels, the pace of green and intelligent transformation in China's shipbuilding is accelerating, with the scale of various new energy and clean fuel vessels operating at sea and on inland rivers ranking among the world's leaders. In February this year, the "COSCO Shipping Peony" he commands successfully completed its methanol dual-fuel power conversion.
More diverse cargo: boarding Captain Cheng's ship, one finds not only traditional goods but also a continuously increasing proportion of high-value-added commodities represented by the "new three" (electric vehicles, lithium batteries, photovoltaic products), indicating an accelerated upgrade in cargo product structure.
More efficient ports: the winds of intelligence are blowing through port terminals, repeatedly lifting loading and unloading efficiency. Smarter Chinese ports ensure the smooth global delivery of "Made in China," becoming a powerful support for stabilizing industrial and supply chains.
Chen Baiquan, Ship Pilot at Fujian's Quanzhou Port – Navigating Through Dense Fog and Battling Giant Waves, Safely Piloting Over a Thousand Domestic and International Vessels In and Out of Port
"Quanzhou Maritime Traffic Control, Pilot 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 from the Quanzhou Maritime Safety Administration, the vessel begins the "last kilometer" into the harbor. Who is "Pilot 23"? This is the call sign of ship pilot Chen Baiquan. As the port's exclusive "maritime chauffeur," pilots are responsible for guiding vessels in and out of ports and during berthing/unberthing operations, often called "the first image of the nation on the water."
On July 20th last year, just 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 to bring the vessel into port. He boarded a pilot boat and headed for the foreign-flagged container ship "Oriental Qingchun." As dusk approached, a pilot ladder over 7 meters high hung from the side of the 210-meter-long giant vessel. The wind and waves caused the ship to pitch and roll, making it difficult for the pilot boat to maintain position alongside, with the gap between the two vessels at risk of sudden closure.
Focusing 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 quickly climbed. After several attempts, he finally boarded the ship and commenced the piloting operation. This was Chen Baiquan's 1,430th safe pilotage. It is now his thirteenth year of independent piloting. "A ship's captain may be an expert on ocean routes, but not necessarily familiar with the waters of a specific port. Narrow channels, tidal currents, and dock operational restrictions can all be obstacles. We, who are rooted in the local port year-round, serve as a safeguard for the safe arrival and departure of these giants," Chen says.
While piloting operations are now recorded electronically with all operational data stored online in real-time, he still insists on reviewing key parameters like tide, wind direction, ship type, and operational adjustments after each job, meticulously analyzing the piloting process. The compulsory pilotage system not only provides navigational safety but is also a vital embodiment of national pilotage sovereignty. Many countries require foreign-flagged vessels entering or leaving their ports to undergo compulsory pilotage, explicitly stipulating that the pilot must be a citizen of that country. This has fostered a unique contingent of seafarers.
Looking along China's vast coastline, over 2,400 pilots, 47 pilotage organizations, 35 pilot stations, and more than 160 professional pilot boats form a modern pilotage network, covering over 2,500 coastal berths of 10,000-ton capacity and above. This network assists approximately 400,000 vessel movements in and out of seaports annually. "From individual pilots with single boats to the comprehensive support of modern pilot stations and professional pilot boats, China's pilotage industry has completed a leap from initial exploration to standardization, specialization, and intelligence in recent years," stated a relevant official from the China Pilots Association. The next step involves continuously improving the pilot management system to better facilitate the movement of foreign trade vessels across rivers and seas, smoothing global trade links.
Zuo Shanshan, Crew Member 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 June 6th, at the T2 terminal building of 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" voyage. Unlike the traditional cruise model requiring international departure and port calls, this "nowhere cruise" mode involves the ship departing from a domestic home port, cruising entirely in international waters without calling at any ports, and finally returning to the original port.
This new sailing mode presents fresh challenges for onboard service and safety guarantees. With the cruise ship transforming from mere transportation into the destination itself, and all passenger dining, leisure, and entertainment activities concentrated onboard, crowd management and safety control become top priorities. "Comedy shows, magic, and themed parties keep guests captivated, while public areas like restaurants, theaters, and decks maintain high passenger traffic throughout the day," says Zuo Shanshan, a Guest Relations Manager.
On one hand, she provides detailed route explanations specifically for elderly guests and families with children; on the other, during peak periods like meal times and after shows, she strengthens on-site guidance to ensure prompt response and resolution of any issues. "The experience exceeded expectations," "truly unforgettable"... Despite the intense work pace, order was maintained ship-wide, and upon disembarkation, many guests praised the service provided by Zuo Shanshan and her colleagues. "Unlike cargo ship seafarers, our job is to serve passengers at sea, enabling more ordinary people to enjoy cruise life," she reflects.
Since first entering the cruise industry in 2012, starting as a pastry chef in the kitchen, Zuo Shanshan has progressed through roles as a restaurant supervisor and front desk agent, step by step growing into a Guest Relations Manager, having served over 150,000 passengers cumulatively. Over this decade-plus, China's cruise economy has experienced rapid development: the market scale has steadily expanded. After more than ten years of growth, China has become the world's second-largest cruise market. In 2025, cruise passenger volume reached 1.301 million, a year-on-year increase of 25.7%. Shanghai Port, where Zuo Shanshan is frequently based, welcomed 230 international cruise ship calls last year, hosting over 1.75 million passengers.
The local industry is growing rapidly. From the official maiden voyage of the first domestically built large cruise ship, "Adora Magic City," to the planned commencement of operations for the second domestically built large cruise ship, "Adora Huacheng," in November this year, domestically produced cruise ships are becoming a shining "mobile 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 a million guests, with its service capacity and industry influence continuously rising.
"Currently, China's cruise economy has entered a new phase of strong recovery and development. Leveraging policy support, route innovation, and upgrades in local services, 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 ship crew, as key forces in cruise service, will, through professional dedication and quality service, polish the reputation of China's cruise services, helping the cruise economy continuously improve in quality and efficiency.
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