The Zhejiang Maritime Administrative Dispute Settlement Center is launched at Ningbo Maritime Court in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Jan 18. [Photo/zj.zjol.com]

The Zhejiang Maritime Administrative Dispute Settlement Center, the first of its kind in China, was launched at Ningbo Maritime Court in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Jan 18.

Co-established by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Justice and the Ningbo Maritime Court, the center is an innovative achievement of the province's court system.

The establishment of an administrative dispute settlement center was piloted in the Zhejiang Provincial Higher People's Court in March 2017 before being expanded to all courts in the province in November 2018. 

The maritime administrative cases were originally in the charge of the provincial higher people's court, according to Wu Shengshun, chief judge of the maritime tribunal of Ningbo Maritime Court. 

However, such cases are increasing in number and becoming more complex as the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and the ocean exploitation of the province reach new heights, which requires a new mechanism to facilitate the settlement of maritime administrative disputes, Wu added.

The center may mediate disputes where the parties involved refuse to accept the decisions made by the administrative bodies, disputes related to the compensation, or other reconcilable maritime administrative disputes.

The Ningbo Maritime Court will, upon receiving the administrative bill of complaint, inform the parties involved that the case may be addressed by the center first, and the center will promptly appoint a moderator to settle the dispute.