Ministry of Communications, Implementation of the «International Maritime Transport Regulations» Notice

Promulgated: May 14 2002
Effective: as of date of promulgation
Applicability: Where Notice No. 1 of the PRC, International Maritime Transport Regulations and the Several Matters Concerning the Implementation of the «International Maritime Transport Regulations» Circular are inconsistent with the Notice, the Notice shall prevail (Article 9).

Main contents: The Notice requires foreign international shipping companies that sign bills of lading and otherwise undertake to transport cargoes or collect transport fees within China without having vessels enter Chinese ports to obtain the qualification for no-vessel shipping business. In particular, companies that use rented vessels or feeder vessels to transport cargoes from a Chinese port to a foreign port for transhipment to the company's vessels (Article 1) must undertake this requirement. Foreign shipping companies and no-vessel common carriers that engage in cargo transport to or from Chinese ports shall designate a contact organization in China (Article 2). Foreign no-vessel common carriers without a branch organization in China shall delegate a qualified local no-vessel common carrier to act as an agent in the issue of bills of lading (Article 3).
Sino-foreign joint venture no-vessel common carriers can apply for qualification in the following two ways: the joint venture company itself applies for the qualification for no-vessel common carrier; or the joint-venture company may apply as the branch organization of the foreign no-vessel common carrier (Article 4).
Foreign no-vessel common carriers can apply through the provincial department in charge of communications where their designated contact organization is located. The municipal communications authorities in Dalian, Qingdao, Xiamen and Shenzhen can also accept applications.