Japan-based ClassNK started operations in Zhoushan in 2009. [Photo/WeChat account: china-zjftz]

The maritime service industry in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province is expected to generate more than 35 billion yuan ($5.48 billion) this year, local media reported on Nov 23.

As early as 2017, the Zhoushan area of the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone proposed the building of an international maritime service base and specified its main layout in international ship management, foreign ship material supply, as well as classification society.

Currently, 415 maritime service suppliers and institutions, with a total registered capital of 8.46 billion yuan ($1.32 billion), have operations in Zhoushan.

Zhejiang Ningshing Maritime Services (Group) Co Ltd, which started operating in Zhoushan in April, is a comprehensive maritime service supplier, offering ship repair, ship building, ship management, and shipping services.

Qiu Song, manager of personnel administration department of the company, said, "We expect to develop our bunker oil supply and ship replenishment based on the international oil and gas trading center and international maritime service base in the Zhejiang FTZ."

Qiu expressed his confidence in the development potential of Zhoushan's maritime service.

Moreover, of the 12 International Association of Classification Societies members, five have operations in Zhoushan, namely the American Bureau of Shipping, Japan-based ClassNK, the China Classification Society, Lloyd's Register of Shipping from the United Kingdom, and Norway-based Det Norske Veritas.