“In the past, when applying for a ship sanitation certificate, we had to go to the service counter and submit paper materials. Now we can get it done with just a few clicks at the office!” said Shan Renjun, shipping manager of Ningbo ReDi Marine Co., Ltd., delighted to receive the first batch of printed digital ship sanitation certificates for inbound and outbound vessels at the Ningbo port.

Starting from July 15, the first batch of digital ship sanitation and quarantine certificates for inbound and outbound vessels has officially gone online nationwide. These include seven types of sanitation and quarantine certificates, such as the Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate and the Ship Sanitation Control Certificate. The new system allows related certificates to be processed without a single in-person visit, further facilitating the fast clearance of roughly 13,000 international voyages annually at Ningbo Port.

Take the ship sanitation certificate as an example: before the online module was launched, companies had to prepare paper documents such as the vessel’s basic information, proof of sanitation status, and crew health records. These materials had to be checked, copied, and organised one by one, and any errors could mean starting the application all over again. During the waiting period, companies could not track the application progress in real time and could only passively wait for notifications. This uncertainty greatly disrupted their operational planning.

“Our biggest concern was that certificate processing delays would hold up cargo clearance for our clients. Now, the problem is solved. We can check the progress in the system and promptly inform our clients, which makes them trust us more,” Shan Renjun said.

On the first day of the launch, the Zhenhai Customs Office under Ningbo Customs received over a hundred inquiry calls. “Upgrading the smart supervision system with the new ship sanitation certificate module is not only a ‘burden reduction’ for enterprises but also an innovative upgrade to the port’s regulatory model,” said a customs official. By using big data analytics and artificial intelligence, the system can accurately assess a ship’s sanitation status and issue risk warnings. If any potential health hazards are detected, the system automatically sends alerts and notifies relevant departments to take timely action. This intelligent regulatory approach not only improves supervision efficiency but also strengthens the port’s public health security.

Source: Zhejiang Daily

Reporter: Li Hua

Correspondents: Yu Shijie, Wu Jinbiao

Editor: Ye Ke