New regulations require domestic sea-going vessels to be equipped with intelligent monitoring systems, leveraging technology to help shipping companies fulfill their primary safety responsibilities.

The recently released "Technical Rules for Statutory Inspection of Domestic Sea-Going Vessels (2026 Amendment)" mandates the installation of smart monitoring systems on all domestic sea-going vessels. This statutory requirement aims to enhance the technical standards for remote shore-based management of shipping companies. It is a crucial supporting measure for the implementation of the "Guidelines for Shipping Companies to Fulfill Primary Safety Responsibilities" and its six supporting work directives.

Why Installation is Necessary

Currently, coastal areas nationwide are accelerating the deployment of 5G networks, while the construction of a domestic low-orbit satellite internet constellation is progressing rapidly. This provides a technical foundation for real-time, seamless communication between ships and shore. Smart monitoring systems enable shore-based management to gain real-time insights into vessel watchkeeping and safety operations. The latest revision of the ship inspection regulations mandates the installation of smart monitoring equipment, actively driving shipping companies to improve their on-site safety control hardware and strengthen the foundation of maritime traffic safety.

The technical requirements for the ship smart monitoring system include integrated AI video recognition, real-time alerts, and remote two-way communication. The system must automatically identify unsafe behaviors, such as fatigue driving or watchkeepers leaving their posts, and simultaneously push alert information to the shore-based platform. By implementing these requirements on vessels, the approach to remote enterprise management shifts from "post-incident accountability" to "pre-incident warnings and in-process intervention."

Three Key Benefits for Enterprises Installing Smart Monitoring

Benefit 1: A 24/7 "Electronic Safety Officer" on Duty. AI video assistance monitors the bridge, automatically identifying and instantly alerting against abnormal behaviors like fatigue driving, watchkeepers leaving their posts, and improper phone use. This helps shore-based monitoring staff filter out risks from a vast number of video feeds, significantly reducing their workload and the need to stare at screens all night. It allows limited human resources to focus on risks requiring genuine intervention, enhancing both monitoring efficiency and coverage.

Benefit 2: Centralized Remote Fleet Management. A single dashboard displays the location, speed, course, and equipment status of all vessels at a glance. To verify a specific ship, shore-based personnel can use remote voice communication directly, eliminating the need for individual phone calls or waiting for WeChat replies. This dramatically improves the efficiency and response speed of shore-based management. No matter the size of the fleet, operators can maintain a clear and dynamic picture, providing strong support for precise scheduling and scientific control from the shore.

Benefit 3: A Concrete Platform for Implementing the "One Guideline, Six Directives." How are shore-based watchkeeping checks, voyage risk assessments, and the "dual review" of high-risk operations to be implemented effectively and avoid becoming mere formalities? Smart monitoring serves as a vital technical support tool: alerts are automatically recorded, helping to standardize watchkeeping logs and significantly reducing the paperwork burden. Real-time comparisons of speed and course assist in dynamically tracking the execution of voyage plans. Remote monitoring of pump rooms and cargo handling areas enables shore-based personnel to simultaneously oversee high-risk operations, supporting the implementation of the "dual review" system. Periodic analysis of alert data can help precisely identify weaker vessels and routes, providing data-driven evidence for targeted corrective actions.

Timeline and Phased Implementation

The new regulations adopt a pragmatic approach, clearly defining differentiated installation deadlines and exemption policies to ensure all domestic sea-going vessels are equipped as required. The regulations will officially take effect on September 1, 2026. In addition to mandating installation on new ships, the following deadlines apply for retrofitting existing vessels:

Passenger ships, high-speed passenger ships, oil tankers, gas carriers, and chemical tankers must be equipped no later than their first scheduled inspection after the amendment takes effect.

Cargo ships and high-speed cargo ships operating in coastal and sheltered waters must be equipped no later than December 31, 2027.

Cargo ships operating in offshore and distant waters must be equipped no later than December 31, 2028.

Special note: Non-self-propelled engineering vessels, harbor tugs, and ships scheduled for demolition within one year after the specified installation deadline may be eligible for exemption. Existing equipment that meets the standards does not need to be re-installed, effectively reducing the financial burden on enterprises.