Container loads constantly stream into the Yangshan Free Trade Zone. [Photo/WeChat ID: shlgguanweihui]

Four key reforms to boost the shipping services industry in the Lin-gang Special Area in East China's Shanghai – outlined in an implementation plan released by the city government on Feb 6 – were explained recently by Zhao Yihuai, deputy director of the Lin-gang Special Area Administration.

The first reform concerns optimizing operations modes for international transshipments and consolidation platforms, to attract global container enterprises to establish consolidation centers in the Yangshan Free Trade Zone.

This includes piloting various operations like export consolidation and international transshipments dismantling, to expand the transshipments and consolidation volume at Yangshan Port.

Transshipment goods will be exempt from inspections if they undergo outfitting, disassembly, as well as consolidation and are then sent overseas – streamlining customs clearances.

Second, there will be a reform of support enterprises that blend high and low sulfur fuel oils for ship supplies through the processing trade or bonded logistics. The two warehouses will be combined into one business operation, enabling eligible facilities to serve as both export supervision warehouses and bonded warehouses, thereby reducing operating costs.

The third initiative involves integrated pilot port area management, promoting logistics and processing activities in the Yangshan FTZ.

Storage period restrictions for goods will be removed and options to resolve transit delays will be explored. Moreover, streamlined customs clearance policies will apply for goods entering and leaving the zone through other Shanghai ports.

Lastly, there will be accelerated innovative development in high-level shipping services, focusing on eco-friendly operations, digitization and intelligent transformation.

The Dishui Lake High-level Shipping Service Innovation Conference will be organized, along with the development of a green digital ship services platform.

The area will pioneer international methanol refueling for navigation vessels, aiming for the first refueling operations to be established in the current year.

To top it off, Lin-gang will aggregate its shipping elements and institutions. This is expected to enhance innovative shipping financial services and elevate maritime legal services, to create a new mecca for the international high-level shipping services industry.