On May 1, 2026, the newly revised Maritime Law of the People’s Republic of China officially came into effect. The revised law, adopted at the 18th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress on October 28, 2025, represents a major upgrade of China’s fundamental shipping law and marks a new stage in the modernization of China’s maritime legal system.

As a leading institution in maritime law teaching and research in China, and a major base for training legal professionals in the shipping sector, the Law School of Dalian Maritime University has taken an active role in promoting the study, interpretation, and implementation of the new Maritime Law. Drawing on nearly half a century of academic development in maritime law and its experience in participating in the revision process, the university has worked to help transform the new law from written provisions into practical application.

Dalian Maritime University scholars have carried out a series of lectures, professional training sessions, and academic seminars for courts, enterprises, maritime authorities, arbitration institutions, and industry organizations. These activities have focused on the key institutional changes and practical implications of the new law, helping the maritime industry better understand and apply the revised provisions.

In January 2026, Professor Shan Hongjun, President of Dalian Maritime University, was invited to deliver a lecture at the Supreme People’s Court’s foreign-related trial forum. He reviewed the revision process of the Maritime Law and explained key institutional updates, including liability for ship-source oil pollution damage, optimization of the ship property rights system, and improvement of rules on the application of law in foreign-related relations.

From late 2025 to April 2026, faculty members from the Law School, including Professors Zhu Zuoxian, Han Lixin, Cao Xingguo, Li Zhiwen, Wu Xu, Jiang Yuechuan, Xia Yuanjun, and Lin Meng, provided training and expert interpretation for organizations such as the Ministry of Transport, maritime courts, Dalian International Arbitration Court, COSCO Shipping Group, port enterprises, maritime administrations, lawyers’ associations, and the University of Hong Kong. Their work covered topics including maritime transport, cargo contracts, ship oil pollution liability, shipping insurance, special maritime systems, and the practical application of revised legal provisions.

The Law School has also contributed to the construction of an independent Chinese maritime law knowledge system through textbooks, monographs, academic papers, and policy recommendations. In 2026, the sixth edition of the textbook Maritime Law, edited by Professor Si Yuzhuo, was published with contributions from several Dalian Maritime University experts. The university also launched works including New Commentary on Chinese Maritime Law and Historical Materials on the Drafts of the Maritime Law of the People’s Republic of China, providing systematic guidance for understanding the new law.

In addition, Dalian Maritime University has actively provided think-tank support for the smooth transition between the old and new Maritime Law. The university has participated in discussions on judicial interpretations and the revision of the Special Maritime Procedure Law, offering theoretical and practical support for unified application of the new rules.

Looking ahead, the Law School of Dalian Maritime University will continue to deepen theoretical research on maritime law, strengthen practical legal services for the shipping industry, and train high-quality maritime legal professionals. Through these efforts, the university aims to provide stronger legal support for the high-quality development of China’s shipping industry, the building of a strong maritime nation, and the enhancement of China’s international voice in maritime legal affairs. 

Original Link: https://news.dlmu.edu.cn/info/1336/820587.htm