Recently, the 24th ShipTek International Maritime Conference & Awards was held in Dubai. Mr. Chen Jiping, General Manager of the China Classification Society (CCS) Dubai Branch, attended the event and held in-depth exchanges with global shipping, energy, maritime administration and technical service stakeholders. He gained a precise read on regional industry trends and actively presented CCS’s comprehensive international service capabilities.

Currently, the maritime industry landscape in the Gulf region is undergoing profound adjustments. Influenced by changes in the geopolitical environment and factors related to the key shipping routes of the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb, industries such as regional shipping and logistics, entrepot trade, and ship repair are accelerating their shift toward ports along the Gulf of Oman. At the same time, major Gulf oil producers are continuously strengthening their maritime energy transport support systems, with leading companies successively expanding energy shipping fleets dominated by large oil tankers, reflecting a growing trend toward greater specialization and scale in the region’s maritime transport.

Against the backdrop of global shipping decarbonization, the pace of green maritime development in the Middle East has continued to accelerate. The UAE, Oman and other countries are vigorously advancing green fuel industry development and port infrastructure upgrades. Notably, Oman is focusing on implementing a low-carbon e-methanol supply and bunkering hub project at Dhofar Governorate Port, aiming to strengthen its regional advantage in green marine fuel supply.

Meanwhile, as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) continues to refine the rules on shipping emission reduction and updates its technical framework covering low-carbon fuel regulation, sustainable fuel certification and incentives for zero-emission technologies, the Middle East is displaying increasingly pronounced features of maritime security enhancement, green transition, and regulatory evolution.

In keeping with the new dynamics of industry development, this year’s ShipTek Dubai conference focused on core themes including shipping decarbonization, implementation of new IMO regulations, maritime digitalization and AI applications, maritime safety governance, and sustainable development, providing a comprehensive overview of the fresh opportunities and challenges facing the international maritime industry.

During the conference, CCS Dubai Branch proactively engaged with Middle Eastern shipowners, energy companies, ports, and maritime administrations, systematically presenting CCS’s technical accumulation and latest practical achievements in areas such as green ship rules, clean-energy ships, intelligent ships, digitalization, remote survey services, and ship safety and risk management.

Going forward, CCS Dubai Branch will continue to deepen its presence in the core Middle East market, closely align with the changes in the regional shipping landscape and the demand for green transition, and consistently deliver professional, efficient, and international maritime technical services, contributing to the high-quality development of the Middle East shipping industry.