On July 18, 2023, APSN Workshop on Port and MASS: Practices, challenges, and Harmonization was jointly held by APEC Port Services Network (APSN) and China Waterborne Transport Research Institute (WTI) in Ningbo, China. Nearly 100 participants engaged in discussions on the latest advances in the maritime autonomous surface ship (MASS), governance of intelligent ships, and the harmonious development of ports and intelligent ships.
During the conference, Dr. Jia Dashan, Secretary-General of APSN, and Mr. Li Qing, Vice President of WTI, delivered the opening remarks. Mr. Ren Xiaobo, Vice General Manager of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port Co., Ltd., delivered the closing remarks. In his opening remarks, Secretary-General Jia welcomed all the participants, thanked the speakers and joint host, and emphasized the importance of the information exchange for the development of MASS in terms of technology and regulatory governance.
In the keynote speech session, Mr. Zhang Baochen, Executive President of China Institute of Navigation and Senior Vice President of the International Association of Institute of Navigation, Mr. Sun Wu, Director of Machinery/Electrical & Intelligent Technology Department of CCS Shanghai Rules and Research Institute, Mr. Zhou Zunshan, Director of the Comprehensive Planning Department of Shandong Maritime Safety Administration, and Mr. Li Yanqing, Chair of ISO/TC8 and Secretary General of China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry, gave speeches on the theme of “Governance and Regulation of MASS”, with respectively titling Considerations on MASS Governance, Development of CCS Rules for Intelligent Ships and IMO MASS Code, Thoughts and Practices for Promoting the Development of Intelligent Shipping by Performing Governmental Functions, and Smart Shipping and ISO/TC8 Activities.
Otherwise, Mr. Edward Liu, Principal Representative of International Chamber of Shipping (China) Liaison Office, Cdr Ang Chin Hup (R), National Consultant to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Mr. Ching Eng Tan, Programme Director of Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI), Mr. Zhou Changgen, Deputy General Manager/Senior Captain of China Energy Shipping Co., LTD., Mr. Zhang Binghua, Chairman of Marautec, and Mr. Zhu Shenchao, Vice General Manager of Navigation Brilliance (Qingdao) Technology Co., Ltd., gave speeches on the topics of The Role of MASS in Shaping the Future of the Industry, Implementation of Autonomous Navigation: Challenges, Benefits & Recommendations, TCOMS R&D on Autonomous and Remotely Operated Vessels, Practices on technology applications of the intelligent navigation of Large Bulk Carriers, Thoughts on Situation Awareness Requirements for MASS Code and Coastal Intelligent Navigation Container Ship Application Practice, respectively, focusing on the theme of “The Latest Research and Trial Run Situation of MASS”.
In the panel session, Mr. Zhang Baochen, Mr. Sun Wu, Mr. Zhang Xin, Vice President of Shanghai International Port (Group) Co., Ltd., and Dr. Huang Yamin from Wuhan University of Technology engaged in a discussion on the harmonious development of ports and intelligent ships.
