On July 8, the unveiling ceremony of the Yangtze River Delta Shipping Development Research Institute followed by a lecture on green and smart port and shipping development was held in China (Jiangsu) Pilot Free Trade Zone Nanjing Area.

The meeting witnessed the unveiling of the Yangtze River Delta Shipping Development Research Institute with Professor Yan Xinping, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of the National Engineering Research Center for Water Transport Safety invited to be its chief advisor. Quadrilateral MOU on supporting the development of the institute was signed by Jiangsu Maritime Safety Administration, Jiangbei New Area, Wuhan University of Technology, and China Design Group. The institute will focus on the research of the Yangtze River Delta shipping technology, the spread of the basic knowledge of shipping, shipping management, the study of shipping industry development policies, and technological breakthrough in the smart, green, and safe development of shipping. S&T-based enterprise incubation and technology commercialization will also be carried out to facilitate the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Delta.

The Yangtze River Delta Shipping Development Research Institute was jointly established by China’s first-class universities and leading shipping companies. Its establishment marked another concrete step forward in the implementation of the national strategy of the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta in Jiangbei New Area (Free Trade Zone), which will surely drive the flow of more shipping industry resources into the area as strong support on its way of becoming a transportation hub.

During the meeting, Professor Yan Xinping gave a lecture on the research of and prospects for a green, intelligent, and flexible shipping system, introducing the development trend of water transportation.