China Classification Society London Maritime Center was formally opened in London on November 24. Mr. Xu Zuyuan, Vice Minister of MOT，attended and addressed the founding ceremony. Mr. Zhang Lirong, the Minister-counsellor of Chinese Embassy to UK, Mr. Ju Chengzhi, the General Director of International Cooperation Department of MOT, Mr. Chen Aiping, Executive Director General of China MSA, IMO MSC and MEPC officials and other important guests from the industry as well as relevant media also attended the ceremony.

It is well known that London is the international maritime center and also the center for the transaction of international ship and shipbuilding, the development of international maritime regulations, the arbitration for the execution of international maritime contracts and the settlement of international ship financing and insurance as well as the center where IMO, IACS, Intertanko, Intercargo, International P& I Club are based. CCS London Maritime Center is intended to have greater involvement in international maritime cluster, enhance multilateral communication with such organizations as IMO, EU, International Association of Classification Societies, international shipping organizations and oil majors. It will actively face the current adjustment of international maritime patterns, study the hot international maritime issues, communicate timely with domestic experts from different industries and provide technology and information support for transport, shipping, shipbuilding, offshore engineering, ship financing, maritime insurance and related industries in China. The special video intranet between CCS London and Beijing aiming at providing efficient maritime services will substantially improve the communication efficiency between China and the rest of the world.

Mr. Li Kejun, President of CCS, said that CCS London Maritime Center is established to meet the demands of domestic shipping-related industries. It will provide stronger support for them and help improve the capability of collecting, analyzing, studying and responding to maritime information.

Mr. Xu Zuyuan pointed out that, at the stage of developing from large to strong shipping and shipbuilding country, China not only needs hardware development but also needs soft strengths. Chinese shipping and shipbuilding industries can only realize sustainable development when they take the initiative in technology research, standard development and rules making. The CCS London Maritime Center will play a more important role as a bridge in boosting the research and innovation of technical standards and in increasing the say of China in international maritime community.