The inaugural joint conference of the Shanghai Maritime Law Community, along with a seminar on innovating maritime arbitration rules, has been held at the North Bund in Hongkou District.
The event featured discussions on maritime law achievements and the progress made by community member organizations.
Notable attendees included Wu Jianrong, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the Shanghai Justice Bureau; Yu Fulin, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Shanghai Transportation Commission and Li Qian, Party Secretary of Hongkou District.
During the conference, representatives from Shanghai Maritime University, the Asia-Pacific Center of the Baltic and International Maritime Council, the Shanghai Headquarters of the China Maritime Arbitration Commission, the Shanghai Arbitration Commission, and other agencies signed cooperation agreements focused on the translation and application of standard contracts in international shipping.
Officials from the Shanghai Justice Bureau, Shanghai High People's Court, and the Shanghai Arbitration Association provided insights into new policies for temporary arbitration in foreign-related maritime cases, as well as guidelines for judicial review of temporary arbitration in the city.
Additionally, the Shanghai Bar Association announced the formation of a legal service team specializing in maritime law.
Participants from the Pudong New Area government, Hongkou District government, China Ocean Shipping Group, and other organizations shared their experiences and insights.
In recent years, Hongkou has capitalized on significant historical opportunities presented by the new development phase at the North Bund, continuously promoting high-quality growth in the shipping industry.
The relocation of the Shanghai International Maritime Arbitration Court, establishment of the International Maritime Council’s Shanghai representative office, and the opening of the Shanghai Seafarers Assessment Demonstration Center have all enhanced the area’s advantages in high-end shipping services.
This year, Hongkou introduced measures to promote high-quality development in the shipping service sector and hosted several high-level events, including the 2024 International Shipping Service Forum and the North Bund Shipping Service Development Conference.
These efforts have fostered a supportive environment for the maritime services industry, alongside a flourishing maritime legal service framework aimed at integrating with the Asia-Pacific arbitration center.
Established in November 2023, the Shanghai Maritime Law Community comprises 33 member organizations, including government departments, judicial bodies, arbitration institutions, law schools, industry associations, and shipping enterprises.
Its goal is to create a legal ecosystem for shipping that is guided by government initiatives, industry standards, and market leadership.
Moving forward, the Shanghai Justice Bureau and the Shanghai Transportation Commission will further leverage the community’s role to enhance collaboration among members, improve maritime legal services, and strengthen Shanghai's position as a global maritime center and hub for international commercial arbitration.
The conference attracted nearly 80 participants, including leaders from the member organizations, liaison officers, and invited experts.