Announcement of the Ministry of Transport on Further Promoting the Policies and Measures for the Direct Navigation Development along the Taiwan Strait

In order to further expand cross-strait direct shipping, speed up the construction of a safe, convenient, green, and efficient cross-strait transportation system, promote cross-strait economic and trade cooperation and personnel exchanges, we now publish policies and measures to promote the development of direct maritime transport across the Taiwan Strait as follows:

I. Actively promote the economic development of cross-strait cruise transportation, and nurture and develop cruise companies with cross-strait capital. At this stage, enterprises with cross-strait capital that are registered on both sides of the strait, with the approval of the Ministry of Transport, may try to charter foreign cruise ships for multiple voyages to cross-strait transportation. With the approval of the Ministry of Transport, foreign cruise liners may call directly on cross-strait ports on international routes, but they must not be transported as cross-strait passengers.

2. On the North China-Taiwan route, the trunk line approved by the Ministry of Transport and signed on both sides of the Taiwan Strait can carry goods on both sides of the Strait. The loading capacity per voyage must not exceed 400 TEU. Specially licensed cross-strait capital flag carriers can take the two banks together. In transit, the load per voyage must not exceed 400 TEU.

Thirdly, the relevant trailers and vehicle operating procedures in the port area will be simplified, and cross-strait motor vehicles will be promoted to intercommunicate through landing, suspension, and transportation.

IV. Relying on the high-speed cross-strait passenger ship rovers and land-sea intermodal transport, we will establish an efficient transportation channel for small goods on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

V. Promote the establishment of cross-strait mutual inspection organizations or offices, and carry out ship operation inspection and construction inspection.

6. Strengthen maritime search and rescue cooperation, hold cross-strait maritime search and rescue seminars in 2013 and cross-strait maritime search and rescue exercises in 2014.

7. The approval, supervision and management of maritime transport from Fujian to the gold, horses and reeds shall be the responsibility of the Fujian Provincial Department of Transportation.

VIII. Increase the Pingtan passenger and cargo ro-ro transportation route to Taiwan and promote the implementation of the ship bonded registration pilot.

9. To carry out pilot innovations in modern shipping service industry such as international ship bond registration in Xiamen, and to strengthen the training and testing of the crews on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

X. Supporting the opening of the Liuwudian waterway in Xiamen Golden Waters to further improve Xiamen Port's ability to serve the economic and social development across the Taiwan Strait.

11. Piloting the construction of a cross-strait transportation and logistics information platform in Xiamen Port, and promoting the connection of relevant transportation information and port information with the traffic electronic ports, and gradually realize the exchange and sharing of information between the two sides of the strait.

Ministry of Transport July 10, 2013