Representatives from 10 classification societies in China and nine other countries pose for a group photo after a meeting held in Zhoushan on Oct 17. [Photo/WeChat account: china-zjftz]

Representatives from 10 classification societies around the world were invited to discuss the development of the ship industry in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province on Oct 17, local media reported.

The ship industry is the traditional pillar industry in Zhoushan, and a modern ship industry system has taken shape in the city, especially in terms of ship repair, according to Mao Jiangping, vice-mayor of Zhoushan.

"When it comes to ship repair, China leads the world, and Zhoushan leads China" has become the industry consensus. A large number of international ships seek repairs in Zhoushan, which has brought new development opportunities to local ship inspection services.

Classification societies are indispensable to any maritime service base. At present, a number of world-renowned classification societies have started operations in Zhoushan, including China Classification Society (CCS), Lloyd's Register of Shipping (LR), and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NK), said Mao.

He encouraged more international classification societies to set up branches in the city.

Dai Yueming, general manager of the Zhoushan branch of Det Norske Veritas (DNV-GL), a Norwegian classification society, introduced businesses in Zhoushan on behalf of nine other participating classification societies.

According to Dai, as early as 1999, DNV-GL started offering classification survey services to Zhoushan ship companies, and in 2017 DNV-GL established a subsidiary in Zhoushan.

He noted that after three years of development, the Zhoushan branch now offers inspection services to more than 600 ships each year.

Representatives from the 10 classification societies also discussed intelligent ship surveying in the post-pandemic era and the important role of classification societies in the development of the maritime service industry.

Zhoushan is home to 33 large-scale shipbuilding and ship repair companies, including 19 companies engaged in international ship repair.

Last year, Zhoushan repaired more than 3,000 ships weighing over 10,000 metric tons, and local ship repair companies above designated size accounted for 40 percent and 20 percent of the domestic and global market share, respectively.