The 26th national maritime trial seminar was held at Ningbo city of Zhejiang province on Nov. 22, 2018. Member of the Party Leadership and Vice President Luo Dongchuan of the Supreme People’s Court attended and delivered a speech, and nearly one hundred judges and specialists from maritime trial system of nationwide were also present. President Ye Liudong, Chief Judge Ni Xuewei, Deputy Chief Judge Song Ruiqiu and judge assistant Tan Xuewen were invited to the seminar. During the seminar, Vice President Luo pointed out that the work of maritime trial should provide judicial services and safeguards for our nation, we should strengthen the talent construction in maritime trial field to continuously promote the quality maritime trial strategy thence endeavor to produce knock-out products which can present the maritime trial level of our nation. Besides, we should promote the construction of China International Maritime Judicial Center, and reinforce foreign exchanges and cooperation so as to enhance China’s judicial international influence. Finally, he also emphasized that maritime courts should strengthen informatization and promote the work of maritime trial to a new high. According to the unified deployment of the Supreme People’s Court, the 27th national maritime trial seminar will be held in Guangzhou Maritime Court(GZMC) between June and July in 2019. President Ye made an ebullient speech and promised that GZMC will spare no efforts to prepare for the seminar and strive to organize a high level national maritime trial seminar. There were 92 papers submitted in this seminar and GZMC has got an abundant harvest of it. The article “The Inspection and Improvement of Procedures for Establishment of Limitation Funds for Maritime Claims” won the first prize which was co-writen by Song Ruiqiu and Gengli Jun. The article“The Judgment Rules for Cases Concerning Ownership Disputes Over Ships which Arising From Sale of Ships”won the second prize which was co-writen by Tan Xuewen, Zhang Le, Huang Yaoxin and Shen Han. And other three papers won the excellence award, they are“The Application of Ship Arrest Before Litigation Under ‘Urgent Condition’”which was co-writen by Chen Wenzhi and Lin Yiyi, “The Analysis of Double Sales of Ships and Its Regulations”which was writen by Shen Han, “The Finding of the Objection by Actual Owner of Affiliated Ships” which was co-writen by Wang Yufei and Luo Chun. Deputy Chief Judge Song Ruiqiu and judge assistant Tan Xuewen made speeches and exchanges during the seminar, and they also answered the question from attendees that deepen the study of related issues.  

On the morning of Nov 16, 2018, President Ye Liudong, Chief Judge Ni Xuewei and judge assistant Tan Xuewen of Guangzhou Maritime Court (GZMC) went to Shanghai Maritime University(SMU) to make exchanges on cooperation matters. Several officials of SMU attended the symposium and the signing ceremony, they were Vice President Yan Wei, former Secretary of the Party Committee Yu Shicheng, Dean Wang Guohua and Secretary of the Party Committee Li Xiping and Office Director Shi Yu of School of Law, and the talks and the signing ceremony was hosted by Dean Wang Guohua. In his welcome address, Vice President Yan Wei said that it has been a long cooperation history between GZMC and SMU, some graduates of SMU went to GZMC for the internship since the 1980s and 1990s. As the communication between both sides is being more and more deepen and frequent, he hopes that both parties can strengthen cooperation continually thence to promote the construction of international maritime judicial center. In his speech, President Ye Liudong said that SMU has a long history and fruitful achievements in the teaching and research of Maritime Law, and hopes that with the joint efforts of both sides in the future cooperation, and they make contributions to the construction of marine power to their respective advantages in the areas of maritime authority and maritime institution of higher education. President Ye and his team have visited the history museum of Law of School and moot courts of SMU before the talks and after that, they joined the brief signing and the award ceremony. President Ye and Vice President Yan co-signed the “GZMC and SMU Cooperation Framework Agreement” and “Cooperation Agreement on Practical Base Construction of School of Law of SMU”, and Vice President Yan issued the nameplate “Practical Base of School of Law of SMU” to President Ye.    

The 11th East Asia Maritime Law Forum was held in the 11th-floor conference hall of Guangzhou Maritime Court(GZMC) on Nov. 3, 2018. The forum was jointly organized by Dalian Maritime University(DLMU) Law School and GZMC, over 60 maritime law scholars, maritime judges, maritime lawyers and shipping professionals from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea(ROK) attended it. The theme of the forum includes three aspects: issues related to vessel-sourced marine pollution, issues related to autonomous vessels and latest development of Maritime Law in China, Japan and ROK. Dean Chu Beiping of DLMU Law School and President Ye Liudong of GZMC delivered a welcome speech on behalf of the organizers, and Deputy Chief Judge Wang Shumei of Civil Adjudication Tribunal NO.4 of the Supreme People’s Court was invited to give a keynote speech. Speakers from different countries held a discussion on three issues. Professor Filippo Lorenzon and Proshanto Mukherjee amd associate professor Wang Xin of DLMU Law School submitted the latest research achievements to the forum. Professor Zhu Zuoxian was invited to make a speech on issues related to autonomous vessels, Vice Dean Han Lixin and associate professor Zhang Jinlei were invited to host the discussion of two issues on vessel-sourced marine pollution and the latest development of Maritime Law in several countries. Judge Pingyang Danke of GZMC presided over the discussion on issues related to autonomous vessels of the third section of the meeting which received unanimous praise from the experts. Since its inception in Japan co-sponsored by Law School of Waseda University, Dalian Maritime University and Korea University in 2008, the East Asia Maritime Law Forum has been held annually among Japan, China and ROK. The Forum has grown into an important academic platform for exchanging ideas, sharing experiences and seeking prosperity and development of marine economy for academia, judicial and shipping business communities in maritime law. The success of the Forum will contribute significantly to theoretical study of maritime law, development of maritime legislation and judicial practice, as well as integration and unification of maritime law among East Asian nations. DLMU and GZMC jointly established the “Guangzhou Branch of Dalian Maritime University Maritime Law Research Institute”(Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Maritime Law Research Institute) in July 2018. It is also the first important cooperation for the two sides to jointly organize the East Asia Maritime Law Forum on the basis of the Guangzhou Branch .  

On the afternoon of Oct. 25, 2018, seven peoples of School of Humanities of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications visited Guangzhou Maritime Court(GZMC), they were Vice President Xie Yong jiang, Secretary Xiao Yimin, professor Luo Chuxiang and Xie Mingdun, associate professor Mi Tienan, doctor Ma Li and Liu Miao. Entrusted by President Ye Liudong, Chief Judge of Judicial Supervision Division and Head of Research Office Ni Xuewei received the guests. Focusing on the practice and problems in the recognition of foreign-related commercial arbitration and enforcement, hot issues in judicial supervision on arbitration, judge Yin Zhonglie and judge assistant Deng Feifei introduced the practice of GZMC in detail. Since 1990, GZMC has reviewed 21 cases of recognition and enforcement of foreign maritime arbitration awards which has accumulated bountiful experiences for domestic judicial practice in the application of New York Convention, and it also provides first-hand information for the Supreme People’s Court to formulate the relevant judicial interpretation and guiding opinions. The two sides also discussed the ways and means of the development of China’s arbitration, Chief Judge Ni made in-depth exchanges with the guests on many issues including pilot experiences in ad hoc arbitration of “three specifics(specific sites, specific rules and specific people)” of free trade zone, the feasibility and necessity of court’s substantive of arbitral award entity, measures to promote the internationalization of China’s arbitration system and the construction of Asia-Pacific arbitration center. Ni also accompanied the guests visited trial service center, the technology court, executive command center, Guangzhou Maritime Judicial Base of the Supreme People’s Court, Guangzhou International Shipping Judicial Research Society and Law Branch of Guangzhou Library.    

On the afternoon of Oct 19, 2018, conference on foreign-related commercial and maritime trial of the Supreme People’s Court was successfully held in Guangzhou Maritime Court(GZMC). Vice President Luo Dongchuan of the Supreme People’s Court and other 40 peoples from the Supreme People’s Court, Maritime Courts and Higher people’s Courts attended the conference. The conference was conducted by Chief Judge Zhang Yongjian of Civil Adjudication Tribunal NO.4 of the Supreme People’s Court. This conference was the preliminary meeting for the upcoming the fifth national conference on foreign-related commercial or maritime trial. Deputy Chief Judge Gao Xiaoli of Civil Adjudication Tribunal NO.4 of the Supreme People’s Court introduced the preparation. Representatives delivered speeches in turns, summarized the achievements in foreign-related commercial or maritime trial across the country since 2014, and gave suggestions on existing problems and the direction of next effort. Vice President Luo pointed out that it was necessary to summarized the successful experiences in foreign-related commercial and maritime trial in the last four years and analyze the confront domestic and international situation so as to make work arrangement for the next few years. We must try our best to make people feel justice and fairness in every judicial practice, deepen the implementation of quality trial strategy and comprehensively enhance China’s international influence in foreign-related commercial and maritime trial.  

President Ye Liudong of Guangzhou Maritime Court(GZMC) and Librarian Fang Jiazhong of Guangzhou Library jointly held the unveiling ceremony for the Law Branch of Guangzhou Library at 9:30 am, October 22, 2018, at the tenth floor of new court complex of GZMC. This marked the official establishment of the first professional branch of Guangzhou Library, and the " Cultural Exchange Center of Guangzhou Maritime Court " was also unveiled. The ceremony was conducted by Director Lin Xiaofeng of Personnel Department of GZMC. The Law Branch of Guangzhou Library is located at the tenth floor of new court complex of GZMC with total areas of 1,463 square meter, it runs under Guangzhou Library and incorporated into the municipal public library service system and has 15,000 books currently. Librarian Fang Jiazhong pointed out that maritime judicial played an indispensable role, the establishment of Law Branch would effectively meet the demand for legal knowledge in Guangzhou. And the Branch will update no less than 20% of the books of its collection every year so as to ensure the books will be updated, attractive and utilized. President Ye Liudong said that the unveiling of the Law Branch of Guangzhou Library was the important measure for GZMC to enhance cultural construction and build a learning court and improve the quality of its crew. GZMC will further manage the Law Branch well and build it into a specialized library with good reputation, providing steady professional and intellectual support for the construction of Guangzhou International Shipping Center.  

On the afternoon of Oct 10, 2018, Director Xin Hai and court clerk Jin Jie of Shanghai Maritime Court visited Guangzhou Maritime Court(GZMC) to research the case trial of maritime oil pollution and cruise transport disputes. Entrusted by President Ye Liudong, Director Xu Yuanping and Judge Yin Zhonglie of Admiralty Division and Head of Research Office Ni Xuewei received the guests. GZMC has trialed oil pollution cases since earlier days and is well experienced. In 1999, GZMC have pioneered the method of payment of compensation from civil litigations of public interests on marine environment to the State Treasury. In 2008, GZMC has carried out a relative exploration of the institution of environmental public interests litigation brought by the procuratorate. During the talks, the two parties made in-depth exchange on issues including the qualification of Marine Safety Administration and other administrative organs as litigation subject, evidences gathering and fixing, evaluation and assessment of infringement and extent of damage and the distribution of maritime oil pollution limitation fund, and they reached many consensuses finally. Shanghai Maritime Court has judicial practical on cruise transport disputes. Under the new situation, its an important subject for the judges of GZMC to have discussion on the trial of cases on cruise transport disputes and reserve and accumulate relevant knowledge from it, Director Xin briefly introduced the experiences of Shanghai Maritime Court in handling such cases. Accompanied by Ni Xuewei, Director Xin visited trial service center, the technology court, Guangzhou International Shipping Judicial Research Society and Guangzhou Maritime Judicial Base of the Supreme People’s Court and watched the publicity film of the Court.  

On the afternoon of Sept 20, 2018, Director Liang Xiangming of Guigang Court of Beihai Maritime Court and judge assistants Jiang Fuwen and Yaomin visited Guangzhou Maritime Court(GZMC). Entrusted by President Ye Liudong, Head of Research Office and Director of Judicial Supervision Division Ni Xuewei conducted the talks. Director Ni introduced relevant measures adopted by GZMC to provide judicial safeguard for the Pearl River shipping and the building of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, emphasized on Guangzhou International Maritime Judicial Base of the Supreme People's Court, Guangzhou International Shipping Judicial Research Society and white paper on maritime trial, and typical cases and practical experiences of the disputes involving river vessels in Hong Kong and Macao routes. Director Liang said that through face-to-face exchange learning, the friendship between the two associate maritime courts has been strengthen and their horizon has been expanded and inspiration has been obtained, which is of great significance to promote the work of the maritime court. It is also well worth learning for them that GZMC has fruitful research achievements in dealing with typical cases of the disputes involving inland river. He also said that the research group should make a summary and generate a report promptly after the tour. Director Ni also accompanied the guests to visit litigation service center, the case filling hall, the technology court, the executive command center and the library.  

On the afternoon of Sept 21, 2018, Guangdong Special Activity of China Arbitration Week was held at SYSU Hotel&Conference Center in Sun Yat-sen University. The theme of this special activity is cross-border commercial arbitration in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou Maritime Judges Association accepted the invitation and Secretary General Ni Xuewei attended the activity. Secretary General Ni pointed out at the seminar that the developing of arbitration has risen to a national strategic level. The work of “admiralty dispute entrusting mediation” has achieved preliminary results which was conducted by Guangzhou Maritime Court and CIETAC South China Sub-Commission. We will further perfect the diversified dispute settlement mechanism that effectively connects litigation, mediation and arbitration to provide convenient legal services for shipping and harbour enterprises in maritime arbitration, mediation and judicial adjudication. More than 100 people attend the seminar including representatives of Guangdong Department of Justice, Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Intellectual Property Office, Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration, Guangdong Lawyers Association and central enterprises and state-owned enterprises in Guangdong province, arbitrators of CIETAC South China Sub- Commission, lawyers, college teachers and scholars.  

The Seminar on Expanding the Application of Maritime Law (Recommended Draft) to Inland Waterway Transport and Vessels was successfully held in Guangzhou on 19 September 2018. The seminar was jointly hosted by Guangzhou Maritime Judges Associations and others and organized by Yang & Lin Co. Law Firm. Wang Yufei, member of the Party Leadership and Vice President of Guangzhou Maritime Court (GZMC), attended the seminar and delivered a speech.   In his speech, Vice President Wang pointed out that since it was put into implementation 26 years ago, Maritime Law has played an important role in safeguarding and promoting China's shipping industry and maritime trade economy. However, after over 20 years of tests from shipping and maritime judicial practices, it can no longer adapt to and meet the needs of the development of the domestic and international shipping economy. The amendment of Maritime Law, including its expansion to inland waterway transport and vessels, should be one of the focused issues to be studied by maritime law academe, the circle of the shipping practices and the maritime judicial circle.   Representatives held a heated discussion on the main problems existing in the inland waterway transport and the general ideas and basic principles of expanding the application of Maritime Law to inland waterways. They also put forward a system conception for the application of Maritime Law to inland waterways transport and vessels and made their comments on many issues including crew protection, limitation of liability, actual carrier, shipping to Hong Kong and Macao, cruise transport, among others.   Representatives called to expand the application of its relevant systems to inland waterways by the amendment of Maritime Law, so as to solve the problems existing in the current shipping practices and judicial practices and to promote the healthy development of inland waterway transport.