S. China Hainan's Yangpu Port registers 1st ship owned by foreign-funded company

Aerial photo taken on Dec. 5, 2021 shows the sunrise scenery of the Yangpu international container port at Yangpu economic development zone in south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

The Yangpu Port in south China's island province of Hainan has recently registered its first ship owned by a foreign-funded company, adding the number of the port's registered ships for international voyages to 33, reported Hainan Daily on March 27.

The ship Ma Yue was originally owned by Singapore's Global Energy Overseas Pte. Ltd., who established a subsidiary Xinle Shipping in Yangpu on June 11, 2021, seeking to expand its position in the Hainan free trade port and the greater Chinese market.

On March 2, Xinle Shipping filed the application to transfer the registration of the Ma Yue vessel to Yangpu Port. Later on March 7, the Hainan Maritime Safety Administration issued two endorsements attesting the recognition of certificate of competency for two Thai crew members of Ma Yue, marking a breakthrough of allowing foreign crew members to work with Yangpu Port's registered ships.

The Yangpu Port currently has a total of 39 shipping routes, of which 18 are foreign trade routes, covering coastal cities in China and major ports in Southeast Asia.