On Friday, February 17, 2023, a ceremony to celebrate the foundation of the International Shipowners Association in Pingtan, China, was held at the Conference Center on Pingtan Island, located near the port city of Fuzhou.
“Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone International Maritime Shipowner Association” was established on the initiative of Chinese shipowners of the Fujian province. The Association aims to build bridges of communication between national and local authorities and ship owners and help in better formulation and implementation of maritime economy development plans, maritime policy, and relevant administrative regulations. The Association will assist in establishing international financial institutions related to the maritime economy, an international logistic center, and a ship supply and repair system in Pingtan. These activities will focus on improving the position of Pingtan as a leading maritime center in China.
Pingtan is the closest region of mainland China to Taiwan and only 68 nautical miles from the port city of Hsinchu in Taiwan. In the future, it will develop the transport of ro-ro ships, containers, bulk, and general cargo to Taiwan.
The ceremony gathered over two hundred representatives of shipping companies, shipyards, classification societies, associations, universities, insurers, and other companies from the maritime industry. Mr. Leszek Pokora, the director of PRS (Shanghai) Vessel Inspection Company, the Chinese branch of the Polish Register of Shipping, was present at the ceremony. He congratulated the Chairman of the Association, Mr. Gao Yangsong, on establishing the organization and wished him to achieve the goals set and declared PRS support to members of the Association with regard to ensuring safety in navigation and ships operated by the PCISA. He also expressed PRS's openness to support the Association in its activities for maritime safety when talking with a representative of the local authorities, the director of the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone Administrative Committee, Mr. Huang Jianbo.
The meeting was also an occasion to establish many new acquaintances that can result in good business cooperation in the future.
