An aerial view of the Yangpu Port, Danzhou, Hainan province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Three large international vessels were registered at Yangpu Port on Thursday, the day Hainan launched island-wide special customs operations, a move that local officials say underscores the policy's role in accelerating the growth of the shipping sector.
Cai Yinghong, head of the Hainan International Ship Registration Administration, noted that the registrations reflect the momentum brought by the new customs regime.
"Their arrival demonstrates Yangpu's growing appeal as a shipping hub," he said, adding that the vessels are engaged in key areas, including cargo transport, engineering, and construction.
An aerial view of the Yangpu Port, Danzhou, Hainan province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
One of the ship operators, Li Min, cited lower costs and streamlined procedures as decisive factors.
"Registering under the new policy significantly reduces our taxes and operational expenses," Li said.
"Hainan's innovative registration system also improves service efficiency."
He added that the combination of the free trade port's geographic advantages and the new policy will enable higher-quality services for the Belt and Road Initiative projects and other maritime initiatives.
Cai outlined three pillars of Hainan's strategy to bring its registration services in line with international standards: implementing world-class regulatory policies, enhancing administrative efficiency, and fostering integrated industrial chains.
An aerial view of the Yangpu Port, Danzhou, Hainan province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Yangpu Port now hosts 99 registered vessels — the most of any free trade zone in China — after establishing the country's first dedicated international vessel registration agency in November 2024.
"We will continue optimizing procedures to attract more global shipping companies and strengthen Yangpu's position as an international maritime hub," Cai said.
