Please find attached at Annex A a circular from the ICS (China) Liaison Office which provides updates on:

· The recent issuance of the Smart Shipping 2030 Action Plan (the “Action Plan”) by China’s Ministry of Transport, jointly with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and two other central government authorities; and
· Specific elements of the Action Plan which sets out China’s strategic framework for the development of smart shipping over the next five years and establishes key objectives to be achieved by 2030.

ICS members with operations in China, involvement in autonomous vessel development, port digitalisation, or related technology partnerships may wish to monitor subsequent implementing regulations, pilot project announcements, and standards development closely.

The ICS China Liaison Office will continue to follow developments and report to members as further details emerge.