In the context of today's globalized economy, the transportation of bulk liquid hazardous goods by vessels has become a critical link in supply chains, with growing attention to safety and environmental protection. Facing rapid industry development and increasingly complex market conditions, China's Ministry of Transport recently issued an announcement to enhance macroeconomic regulation of the coastal inter-provincial bulk liquid hazardous goods shipping market, aiming to ensure sustainable and healthy industry development through scientific management mechanisms.
Market Regulation and Capacity Control
The announcement focuses on macroeconomic regulation, emphasizing total capacity control and a merit-based selection system. According to market supply and demand conditions, the Ministry will manage and regulate the bulk liquid hazardous goods transportation market under principles of openness, fairness, and justice. The new regulations took effect immediately upon publication, marking a significant step forward in China's hazardous goods shipping sector.
For new market entrants and additional shipping capacity, the Ministry has established a comprehensive expert evaluation system. This mechanism ensures quality control of new capacity while preventing uncontrolled market expansion. Evaluation criteria will include corporate qualifications, technical capabilities, management standards, and safety records. The Ministry will also develop detailed implementation rules to ensure the scientific validity of the evaluation process.
Strict Requirements for New Entrants
New transportation operators must comply with requirements outlined in the "Domestic Water Transport Management Regulations," with priority given to companies holding proper hazardous liquid transportation qualifications. This policy aims to inject vitality into the industry while encouraging qualified enterprises to participate in market competition. Companies are expected to enhance their technical capabilities while maintaining safety standards, ensuring safety isn't compromised for competitive advantage.
The announcement also provides clear guidance for new vessel capacity. Additional capacity must meet national technical standards and age requirements, which can be achieved through new vessel construction, foreign-flagged vessels transferring to domestic service, or overseas acquisitions. This diversified approach is expected to promote innovation and improve vessel technology and safety performance.
Fleet Renewal Policy
For existing vessels, companies may adopt a "retire one, add one" or "retire many, add one" approach when decommissioning ships. This flexible policy encourages fleet renewal and phasing out of older vessels to reduce safety risks while optimizing overall industry efficiency. New capacity cannot exceed 50% of the total tonnage of retired vessels, maintaining market stability while promoting technological advancement and safety.
Environmental Considerations
The policy aligns with growing global environmental awareness, making green development a key trend in hazardous liquid transportation. These regulatory measures aim to enhance sustainable development in the sector while driving innovation in low-carbon and energy-efficient technologies, accelerating the transformation of traditional transportation models.
To ensure policy implementation, the Ministry will strengthen supervision of greenhouse gas emissions, noise pollution, and water pollution. This comprehensive management framework seeks to improve environmental performance across the transportation industry, supporting green shipping and sustainable development goals.
The Ministry will regularly evaluate the effectiveness of market access mechanisms and make adjustments as needed, creating a dynamic regulatory framework that adapts to market and technological changes. Training and guidance will be provided to relevant organizations to ensure proper policy implementation.
With the new announcement, several previous Ministry notices will be rescinded, streamlining regulatory processes and advancing transportation management system reforms. This new policy framework is expected to stimulate market vitality and drive transformation in China's bulk liquid hazardous goods shipping industry.
