A container ship is berthed at Yangshan Port in Shanghai. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/China Daily]

The State Council, in a reply on Dec 31, approved interim adjustments to the regulation of international marine transport and the administration of domestic waterway transport at the Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

The adjustments, effective from Jan 1, 2025, to Dec 31, 2027, include item 2 of article 19 of the regulations on international marine transport and article 11 of the regulations on the administration of domestic waterway transport.

Within the approved interim period, eligible international voyage ships without the Five-Starred Red Flag, wholly owned or controlled by international container liner companies from foreign countries, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region, will be allowed to pilot coastal shipping for foreign trade containers between Dalian Port, Tianjin Port, Qingdao Port, Lianyungang Port and Yangshan Port in Shanghai, with Yangshan Port as the port of trans-shipment.