Ningbo's remote inspection mechanism to be promoted in Asia-Pacific

A foreign vessel berths at a port in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat account: nbfb0574]

Ningbo's move to inspect foreign ships remotely in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will soon be promoted in 21 countries and regions in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Guidance on Remote PSC Inspections compiled by the Ningbo Municipal Bureau of Maritime Affairs will be implemented on April 1, according to a notice released by the Port State Control Committee of the Tokyo MOU.

By leveraging digital technologies, Ningbo, a port city in East China's Zhejiang province took the lead in moving inspections on foreign ships online.

The mechanism was first implemented successfully on ships from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative and Central East European Countries.

The mechanism has improved port operation efficiency, reducing the time a ship needs to stay in the port by 10 percent.

A staffer from the Ningbo Municipal Bureau of Maritime Affairs pointed out the mechanism not only serves as an alternative to the boarding inspection after the outbreak, but has also paved the way to digital transformation in the shipping industry.