Zhoushan hosted the 2024 International Association of Classification Societies Technical Seminar on Oct 18, drawing representatives from various classification societies worldwide. For the first time, representatives from inspection agencies, shipbuilding firms, and maritime finance companies were invited.

The seminar focused on pivotal topics like green energy supply and future trends in smart ships and ports, with discussions on liquefied natural gas, methanol, biofuels, nuclear energy, and carbon capture. Enhancements in port infrastructure, digital shipping, and green asset management were also explored.

Zhoushan has emerged as a maritime powerhouse, offering ship supply, repair, trading, and crew services and driving the growth of over 1,600 upstream and downstream enterprises with an industrial scale exceeding 51 billion yuan ($7.18 billion).

Zhoushan's foreign vessel repair sector accounts for 45 percent of China's and 20 percent of the world's total market. In the first nine months of this year, Zhoushan repaired 1,842 foreign vessels, generating a revenue of 8.90 billion yuan, a 24.66-percent increase year-on-year.

Zhoushan is currently developing its green ship repair industry, with nearly 70 percent of shipyards transitioning to eco-friendly practices. The city is also bolstering its green fuel industry and digital shipping finance.

Since its inception in 2020, the seminar has become a hallmark event for Zhoushan's maritime service base.