Spanning four days, the World Maritime Equipment Conference 2024 commenced in Fuzhou on November 15, under the theme "Carrying the Dreams of Humanity to New Horizons".

Centered on advancing the maritime equipment industry, the conference promotes integration across industrial and supply chains, fosters partnerships between academia and industry, and research institutions, and facilitates talent exchange, economic collaboration, and the conversion of research outcomes into practical applications. It brings together representatives from international maritime organizations, leading nations in maritime equipment, and Belt and Road Initiative countries to drive innovation toward high-end, sustainable, and intelligent technologies. The event aspires to establish itself as a premier global brand in the maritime equipment sector.

Fujian Pavilion Showcases Breakthroughs and Innovations on Maritime Equipment at China Maritime Equipment Expo 2024

Fujian Ranks Third Nationwide in Marine Economy for Nine Consecutive Years

As part of the World Maritime Equipment Conference 2024, a concurrent boat exhibition is drawing crowds to the Mawei Shipbuilding Culture City Wharf. The research vessel "Kexue" and the enforcement ship "China Marine Surveillance 8001" made a grand appearance, offering citizens and tourists a close-up look at the cutting-edge capabilities of China's deep-sea and far-sea equipment.

Captain Chen Xiufeng of the Kexue introduced the vessel as China's first new-generation multipurpose oceanographic research ship with independent intellectual property rights. As of September 2024, the vessel has completed over 2,800 days at sea, traversing 400,000 nautical miles across the Western, North, and Central Pacific—equivalent to circling the globe 20 times.

Meanwhile, the "China Marine Surveillance 8001" stands as Fujian's largest maritime and fisheries enforcement vessel. Measuring 88.9 meters in length and 12.2 meters in width, it boasts a displacement of 1,750 tons and a range of 5,000 nautical miles. Equipped with state-of-the-art features such as a helicopter landing platform, an electro-optical evidence collection system, and water cannons, the vessel exemplifies advanced maritime enforcement technology.

At the Second China Marine Equipment Expo 2024, more than 7,000 cutting-edge marine technology products and innovations are on display. These exhibits aim to inspire attendees to venture into the deep blue, showcasing China's growing momentum and vitality in marine technology.

Fujian’s maritime legacy dates back over a century, when its shipbuilding industry served as a beacon of hope during the Westernization Movement. In 1866, Zuo Zongtang established the Foochow Arsenal, and the same year saw the founding of China's first naval school, the Foochow Shipbuilding Institution. These milestones marked the beginning of modern China's pursuit of empowerment and rejuvenation, embodying the nation's aspirations to harness the seas and connect with the world.

Fujian Thrives and Flourishes by the Sea

According to Fujian Daily, General Secretary Xi Jinping laid the groundwork for Fujian's marine economy during his tenure in the province, introducing visionary concepts and practices that charted a course for Fujian to grow stronger by embracing the sea.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has maintained a keen focus on maritime development in Fujian. During his visit in 2014, he emphasized the importance of deepening mountain-sea collaboration. In 2021, he highlighted the need to expand emerging marine industries and bolster marine ecological protection. Most recently, in October of this year, he renewed his call for "accelerating the construction of national marine economy demonstration zones in Fuzhou and Xiamen, and expanding and strengthening the marine economy".

Fujian has remained steadfast in its commitment to its maritime development blueprint.

The province has achieved remarkable results in marine technology innovation, excelled in marine culture dissemination, and continuously advanced the construction of a strong maritime province. In 2023, Fujian's gross marine product reached 1.2 trillion yuan, contributing 21.7% of the province's GDP and securing its position as the third-largest marine economy in the nation for the ninth consecutive year. The province has established trillion-yuan marine industry clusters in green petrochemicals and marine tourism, alongside hundred-billion-yuan clusters in marine fisheries, shipping logistics, and marine information. As one of the province's four key economic pillars, the marine economy continues to inject robust momentum into Fujian's economic development.

Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding Unveils Its Deep-Sea Mining Vessel at the Second China Marine Equipment Expo 2024

Over 100 Billion Yuan Investment Boosts the "Fujian-Made" Brand

On November 15th, the Fujian Marine Economy Industry Cooperation and Innovative Development Conference, a key segment of the World Maritime Equipment Conference 2024, convened in Fuzhou. Fujian Province secured agreements for 178 projects with a combined investment exceeding 170 billion yuan. These projects underscore a growing focus on emerging marine industries, a strengthening of enterprise capabilities, and an increasingly optimistic investment outlook. Among the 50 projects signed at the event, 60% are in emerging marine industries, while offshore engineering equipment and shipbuilding sectors account for approximately 25%.

At the Fujian Pavilion of the Second China Marine Equipment Expo 2024, five major highlights showcase the province's distinctive achievements in maritime equipment. The exhibition area is divided into four sections: the Electric Ship Industry Chain, Offshore Wind Power, Maritime Engineering Equipment, and Deep-Sea Aquaculture.

The pavilion features over 100 innovative products, including "Mintou 1", China's first semi-submersible fishing and tourism platform, and the "MSC NURYA", the world's largest open-top container ship with a capacity of 3,700 TEU, highlighting the new productive capabilities in the maritime equipment sector.

Fujian's maritime journey began over a century ago during the Westernization Movement, which initiated China's modern industrialization. The establishment of the Foochow Arsenal marked the birth of modern China's maritime equipment industry. Since then, Fujian has embarked on a historic mission deeply connected to the sea, playing a historic role as a cradle of modern Chinese shipbuilding. Today, Fujian continues to build on this legacy with a modern outlook, leveraging economic strength to elevate the "Fujian-Made" brand as a key player in building China as a strong maritime nation.

Fuzhou, born by the sea, has thrived through its maritime endeavors. With a sea area of approximately 11,000 square kilometers and a mainland coastline stretching 963 kilometers, it was a pivotal hub of the ancient Maritime Silk Road and one of the first 14 Chinese coastal cities to open its ports to the world.

As the host city for the World Maritime Equipment Conference 2024, Fuzhou has pursued a forward-looking maritime development strategy for over 30 years. The city has accelerated its transformation into a "Maritime Fuzhou", fostering the growth of a national demonstration zone for the marine economy and driving the transformation of the marine economy from small to large and from large to strong. Over three decades, its gross marine product has surged from 3.9 billion yuan in 1993 to 325 billion yuan in 2023, making it the third-ranked prefecture-level city nationwide and the top in the province.

The Mawei Shipyard, originally the Foochow Arsenal, is located on Culu Island in Lianjiang and holds a storied place in Chinese and Asian maritime history. It was the birthplace of China's first 1,000-ton steamship, the first steel warship, and the first seaplane.

Since the beginning of this year, Mawei Shipyard has achieved numerous milestones, including delivering the world's largest open-top container ship, completing Fuzhou's first ro-ro ship, and commencing the construction of two 79.8-meter large tuna purse seiners. Additionally, the shipyard completed a dock repair project for a 700 TEU container ship. A shipyard spokesperson remarked, "We are creating the province's largest specialized ship production base, dedicated to producing a variety of vessels for countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative."

World's Largest 26-Megawatt Offshore Wind Turbine Rolled off Production Line in Fuqing, Fuzhou in October, 2024

Innovation Fuels Growth in Fujian's Thriving Marine Equipment Industry Cluster

This October, in Fuqing, Fuzhou, the Fujian Three Gorges Offshore Wind Power International Industrial Park celebrated a major milestone with the unveiling of the world's largest 26-megawatt offshore wind turbine. Boasting over 30,000 components, the turbine features completely independent intellectual property rights and world-leading key technologies.

Shi Huicai, a member of the Leading Party Members Group and Chief Engineer of the Fujian Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, emphasized that the maritime equipment industry is critical for accelerating marine economic growth and building a robust maritime province. In recent years, the province has prioritized "upgrading, smart technology, and eco-friendliness" as core strategies, implementing measures to enhance and strengthen its industrial chain. These efforts have propelled the high-quality development of the sector, with the shipbuilding and maritime engineering equipment industries achieving significant scale. Initial industrial clusters have emerged in key locations such as the Minjiang Estuary, Sandu'ao, Meizhou Bay, and the Xiamen-Zhangzhou Bay. The shipbuilding industry continues to thrive, with steady growth in three key metrics: completed shipbuilding volume, new orders, and order backlogs.

Fujian's commitment to innovation has led to advancements in high-tech, specialized vessels, resulting in a diverse range of ship types including ro-ro ships, offshore engineering vessels, container ships, oil and chemical tankers, and bulk carriers. The province is also a national leader in deep-sea aquaculture, developing advanced equipment that supports large-scale farming operations. Currently, a batch of deep-sea aquaculture equipment is under construction. Once completed, it will create a connected and integrated network of maritime aquaculture facilities along the province's coastal areas.

The province's electric ship industry boasts a comprehensive supply chain, supported by strengths in power batteries and shipbuilding. Guided by the principle of "Focusing on Fujian, Serving the Yangtze River Region, and Facing the Whole Country", Fujian has become a national leader in electric ship development. The industry encompasses top-tier enterprises like CATL Electric Ship and Funing Shipbuilding. Core technologies such as the "three electric systems" (electric motor, battery pack, electronic control system) are now mass-produced, with products serving domestic and international markets. Over 1,000 electric ships are currently in operation, accounting for more than 40% of the domestic market share.

As vital infrastructure, ports play a pivotal role in international trade and connectivity.

The province boasts the second-longest mainland coastline in China, home to numerous world-class deep-water harbors. There are 213 berths in the province capable of handling over 10,000 tons, accommodating the world's largest ship types on a regular basis, with port routes reaching across the globe. Fujian's total shipping capacity exceeds 20 million deadweight tons, with approximately 370,000 container slots, ranking second in the nation. The cargo throughput of Xiamen Port and Fuzhou Port places them among the world's top 30 ports. The province operates over 320 container shipping routes, connecting more than 160 ports across 60+ countries and regions. The "Silk Road Maritime" international comprehensive logistics service brand integrates seamlessly with the Belt and Road Initiative, establishing 132 named shipping routes.

The tide rises in the southeast, setting sail with vigor.

The World Maritime Equipment Conference 2024 promises to further catalyze the development of Fujian's marine equipment industry. By fostering deeper integration and collaboration between Fujian and domestic and international partners, the conference will drive the high-quality growth of the marine economy. This will position Fujian as a key player, contributing significantly to China's evolving development landscape and its maritime endeavors.

Translated by Fujian Investmet Promotion Center