Maersk Line unloads 1,227 twenty-equivalent units of cargo at Dapukou Port, part of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, on April 1. [Photo/zhoushan.cn]

Thanks to the rapid development of the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) located in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, the island city of Zhoushan has experienced a boom in its shipping service industry over the past two years.

Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has been the number one port in the world in terms of cargo turnover for 10 consecutive years.

Its port area in Zhoushan handled 10,161 ships last year, and the load capacity of cargo ships in the city's coastal areas increased by 1.41 million metric tons to 7.5 million tons, the fastest growth of any port over the past decade. 

In addition, Zhoushan introduced 47 modern shipping service providers and supporting institutions last year, more than the city has ever had. 

Shipping service company cluster 

Ship inspection and detection is an important part of professional shipping services. Saybolt, a detection agency based in the Netherlands, set up a branch in Zhoushan last year. Specializing in oil and ore detection, it is the first foreign-funded detection agency to come to the city.

Saybolt plans to establish a lab in its Zhoushan branch which will serves as the head office for its businesses in East China, according to Zhang Jie, general manager of Saybolt East China division.

In addition, international arbitral agencies, ship agencies and law firms were also introduced, in an effort to build a shipping service cluster zone in the city. 

"These companies enhanced our services in maritime law, insurance, finance, and sailor training and management," said an official from the local port authority. 

River-sea intermodal transportation progress

Ideally located at the convergence of the Yangtze River and China’s south-north sea transport passage, Zhoushan has made it a top priority to build itself into the nation's river-sea intermodal transportation service hub.

Jianghai Zhida 1, the nation's first dual sea-river vessel, started her nonstop maiden voyage from the city's Shulanghu Iron Ore Port to Ma'anshan Port in Anhui province on April 5, 2018.

Jianghai Zhida 1, the nation's first dual sea-river vessel [Photo/WeChat account: chinabluenews]