Regulations of the People's Republic of China on International Maritime Transport (Revised in 2025)
Regulations of the People's Republic of China on International Maritime Transport (Revised in 2025)
Regulations of the People's Republic of China on International Maritime Transport (Revised in 2025)
Order of the State Council of the People's Republic of China No. 817
September 28, 2025
(Issued by Order of State Council of the People's Republic of China No. 335 on December 11, 2001; revised for the first time in accordance with the Decision of the State Council on Abolishing and Revising Some Administrative Regulations on July 18, 2013; revised for the second time in accordance with the Decision of the State Council on Revising Certain Administrative Regulations on February 6, 2016; revised for the third time in accordance with the Decision of the State Council on Revising Certain Administrative Regulations on March 2, 2019; revised for the fourth time in accordance with the Decision of the State Council on Revising and Repealing Some Administrative Regulations on July 20, 2023; and revised for the fifth time in accordance with the Decision of the State Council on Revising the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on International Maritime Transport)
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 These Regulations are formulated to regulate international maritime transport activities, protect fair competition, maintain order in the international maritime transport market, and guarantee the lawful rights and interests of the parties involved in international maritime transport.
Article 2 These Regulations shall apply to international maritime transport operations involving the entry into or departure from ports of the People's Republic of China, and to auxiliary business activities related to international maritime transport.
The term "auxiliary business activities related to international maritime transport" as mentioned in the preceding paragraph includes services such as international ship agency, international ship management, international maritime cargo loading and unloading, international maritime cargo warehousing, international maritime container station and yard operation, and international shipping exchange platform services.
Article 3 Entities engaging in international maritime transport operations and auxiliary business activities related to international maritime transport shall abide by the principles of good faith, conduct business in accordance with the law, and engage in fair competition.
Article 4 The transport authority under the State Council and the competent transport authorities under relevant local people's governments shall, in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations, supervise and regulate international maritime transport operations, exercise the relevant supervision and regulation of auxiliary business activities related to international maritime transport.
The transport authority under the State Council and the competent transport authorities under the relevant local people's governments shall implement credit management for operators and providers of international maritime transport and its auxiliary services, and include the relevant credit records in the national credit information sharing platform.
Chapter II Operators of International Maritime Transport and Its Auxiliary Services
Article 5 An entity engaging in the business of international passenger ship transport or international bulk liquid dangerous goods ship transport shall meet the following conditions:
(1) Have obtained the status of a legal-person enterprise;
(2) Possess ships commensurate with the scope of business operations, among which there must be Chinese-flagged ships;
(3) Ensure that the ships put into operation comply with the maritime traffic safety technical standards prescribed by the State;
(4) Possess bills of lading, passenger tickets, or multimode transport documents; and
(5) Employ senior business management personnel with the practice qualifications as prescribed by the transport authority under the State Council.
Those engaging in the business of international container ship transport or international general cargo ship transport shall obtain the status of a legal-person enterprise, and possess the ships commensurate with the scope of business operations.
Article 6 An entity engaging in the business of international passenger ship transport and international bulk liquid dangerous goods ship transport, shall file an application with the transport authority under the State Council and attach the relevant materials meeting the conditions as prescribed in Article 5 of these Regulations. The transport authority under the State Council shall complete the examination within 30 days from the day of accepting the application and make a decision on whether or not to approve the application. If approval is granted, an International Ship Transport Operation Permit shall be issued to the applicant. If approval is not granted, the applicant shall be notified in writing and informed of the reasons.
In the examination of an application for the business of international passenger ship transport and international bulk liquid dangerous goods ship transport, the transport authority under the State Council shall take into consideration the national policies regarding the development of the international maritime transport industry and the competition in the international maritime transport market.
If an entity applies for the business of international passenger ship transport and the international liner shipping business simultaneously, it shall attach the relevant materials as prescribed in Article 11 of these Regulations to be examined and registered by the transport authority under the State Council.
Those engaging in the business of international container ship transport and international general cargo ship transport shall, within 15 days from the commencement of its business, report to the competent transport authority under the people's government of the province, autonomous region, and municipality directly under the Central Government for record-filing. The filing information shall include enterprise name, place of registration, contact number, and the vessel details.
Article 7 An entity engaging in non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC) services shall, within 15 days from the date of commencement of business, file a record with the transport authority under the people's government of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government.
The filing information shall include the enterprise name, place of registration, and contact information.
The term “non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC) services” as referred to in the preceding paragraph means an international maritime transport operation in which the NVOCC, acting in the capacity of a carrier, accepts cargo from a consignor, issues its own bill of lading or other transport documents, collects freight from the consignor, and arranges for international maritime cargo transport through international ship transport operators, while assuming the liabilities of a carrier.
Any entity engaging in NVOCC services within the territory of China shall establish a legal-person enterprise in accordance with the law.
Article 8 An operator of the business of international passenger ship transport or international bulk liquid dangerous goods ship transport shall not provide their operation qualifications lawfully obtained for the use by others.
Article 9 Where an operator of the business of international passenger ship transport or international bulk liquid dangerous goods ship transport no longer meets the conditions as prescribed in these Regulations after obtaining the corresponding operation qualification in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations, the transport authority under the State Council shall cancel its operation qualification immediately.
Chapter III International Maritime Transport and Auxiliary Business Activities Thereof
Article 10 An international ship transport operator engaging in the international liner shipping business involving the entry into or departure from ports of China shall, in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations, obtain the operation qualification for international liner shipping.
Entities that have not obtained the operation qualification for international liner shipping may not engage in the international liner shipping business, nor release the schedule to the public or accept booking.
Where international liner transport is operated through vessel-sharing, slot exchange, joint operation, or other cooperative arrangements, the provisions of the first paragraph of this Article shall apply.
Article 11 An entity intending to engage in the international liner shipping business shall file an application with the transport authority under the State Council, along with the following materials:
(1) Name, place of registration, duplicate of business license, and main capital contributors of the international ship transport operator;
(2) Names and the identification certificates of the main business management personnel of the operator;
(3) Information regarding the ships used in operation;
(4) Sea route, schedule, and ports of call along the way of the vessels;
(5) Freight rate book; and
(6) Bills of lading, passenger tickets, or multimode transport documents.
The transport authority under the State Council shall complete the examination within 30 days from the day of receiving the application for the operation of international liner shipping business.
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Order of the State Council of the People's Republic of China No. 817
September 28, 2025
(Issued by Order of State Council of the People's Republic of China No. 335 on December 11, 2001; revised for the first time in accordance with the Decision of the State Council on Abolishing and Revising Some Administrative Regulations on July 18, 2013; revised for the second time in accordance with the Decision of the State Council on Revising Certain Administrative Regulations on February 6, 2016; revised for the third time in accordance with the Decision of the State Council on Revising Certain Administrative Regulations on March 2, 2019; revised for the fourth time in accordance with the Decision of the State Council on Revising and Repealing Some Administrative Regulations on July 20, 2023; and revised for the fifth time in accordance with the Decision of the State Council on Revising the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on International Maritime Transport)
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 These Regulations are formulated to regulate international maritime transport activities, protect fair competition, maintain order in the international maritime transport market, and guarantee the lawful rights and interests of the parties involved in international maritime transport.
Article 2 These Regulations shall apply to international maritime transport operations involving the entry into or departure from ports of the People's Republic of China, and to auxiliary business activities related to international maritime transport.
The term "auxiliary business activities related to international maritime transport" as mentioned in the preceding paragraph includes services such as international ship agency, international ship management, international maritime cargo loading and unloading, international maritime cargo warehousing, international maritime container station and yard operation, and international shipping exchange platform services.
Article 3 Entities engaging in international maritime transport operations and auxiliary business activities related to international maritime transport shall abide by the principles of good faith, conduct business in accordance with the law, and engage in fair competition.
Article 4 The transport authority under the State Council and the competent transport authorities under relevant local people's governments shall, in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations, supervise and regulate international maritime transport operations, exercise the relevant supervision and regulation of auxiliary business activities related to international maritime transport.
The transport authority under the State Council and the competent transport authorities under the relevant local people's governments shall implement credit management for operators and providers of international maritime transport and its auxiliary services, and include the relevant credit records in the national credit information sharing platform.
Chapter II Operators of International Maritime Transport and Its Auxiliary Services
Article 5 An entity engaging in the business of international passenger ship transport or international bulk liquid dangerous goods ship transport shall meet the following conditions:
(1) Have obtained the status of a legal-person enterprise;
(2) Possess ships commensurate with the scope of business operations, among which there must be Chinese-flagged ships;
(3) Ensure that the ships put into operation comply with the maritime traffic safety technical standards prescribed by the State;
(4) Possess bills of lading, passenger tickets, or multimode transport documents; and
(5) Employ senior business management personnel with the practice qualifications as prescribed by the transport authority under the State Council.
Those engaging in the business of international container ship transport or international general cargo ship transport shall obtain the status of a legal-person enterprise, and possess the ships commensurate with the scope of business operations.
Article 6 An entity engaging in the business of international passenger ship transport and international bulk liquid dangerous goods ship transport, shall file an application with the transport authority under the State Council and attach the relevant materials meeting the conditions as prescribed in Article 5 of these Regulations. The transport authority under the State Council shall complete the examination within 30 days from the day of accepting the application and make a decision on whether or not to approve the application. If approval is granted, an International Ship Transport Operation Permit shall be issued to the applicant. If approval is not granted, the applicant shall be notified in writing and informed of the reasons.
In the examination of an application for the business of international passenger ship transport and international bulk liquid dangerous goods ship transport, the transport authority under the State Council shall take into consideration the national policies regarding the development of the international maritime transport industry and the competition in the international maritime transport market.
If an entity applies for the business of international passenger ship transport and the international liner shipping business simultaneously, it shall attach the relevant materials as prescribed in Article 11 of these Regulations to be examined and registered by the transport authority under the State Council.
Those engaging in the business of international container ship transport and international general cargo ship transport shall, within 15 days from the commencement of its business, report to the competent transport authority under the people's government of the province, autonomous region, and municipality directly under the Central Government for record-filing. The filing information shall include enterprise name, place of registration, contact number, and the vessel details.
Article 7 An entity engaging in non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC) services shall, within 15 days from the date of commencement of business, file a record with the transport authority under the people's government of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government.
The filing information shall include the enterprise name, place of registration, and contact information.
The term “non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC) services” as referred to in the preceding paragraph means an international maritime transport operation in which the NVOCC, acting in the capacity of a carrier, accepts cargo from a consignor, issues its own bill of lading or other transport documents, collects freight from the consignor, and arranges for international maritime cargo transport through international ship transport operators, while assuming the liabilities of a carrier.
Any entity engaging in NVOCC services within the territory of China shall establish a legal-person enterprise in accordance with the law.
Article 8 An operator of the business of international passenger ship transport or international bulk liquid dangerous goods ship transport shall not provide their operation qualifications lawfully obtained for the use by others.
Article 9 Where an operator of the business of international passenger ship transport or international bulk liquid dangerous goods ship transport no longer meets the conditions as prescribed in these Regulations after obtaining the corresponding operation qualification in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations, the transport authority under the State Council shall cancel its operation qualification immediately.
Chapter III International Maritime Transport and Auxiliary Business Activities Thereof
Article 10 An international ship transport operator engaging in the international liner shipping business involving the entry into or departure from ports of China shall, in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations, obtain the operation qualification for international liner shipping.
Entities that have not obtained the operation qualification for international liner shipping may not engage in the international liner shipping business, nor release the schedule to the public or accept booking.
Where international liner transport is operated through vessel-sharing, slot exchange, joint operation, or other cooperative arrangements, the provisions of the first paragraph of this Article shall apply.
Article 11 An entity intending to engage in the international liner shipping business shall file an application with the transport authority under the State Council, along with the following materials:
(1) Name, place of registration, duplicate of business license, and main capital contributors of the international ship transport operator;
(2) Names and the identification certificates of the main business management personnel of the operator;
(3) Information regarding the ships used in operation;
(4) Sea route, schedule, and ports of call along the way of the vessels;
(5) Freight rate book; and
(6) Bills of lading, passenger tickets, or multimode transport documents.
The transport authority under the State Council shall complete the examination within 30 days from the day of receiving the application for the operation of international liner shipping business.
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