Marintec China 2025 concluded in early December at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, establishing itself as the world’s largest maritime exhibition. The event drew more than 2,200 companies from over 40 countries and regions, with foreign exhibitors accounting for nearly half of the total. Over 100,000 professional visitors from more than 100 countries attended, reflecting Shanghai’s role as a global crossroads for maritime commerce.
Senior Maritime Forum Addresses Global Challenges
The Senior Maritime Forum ran concurrently with the exhibition, focusing on themes of smart navigation, green symbiosis, and convergent innovation. International speakers from European shipowners’ associations, financial institutions, and regulatory bodies discussed decarbonization pathways, regulatory frameworks, and investment priorities. The forum emphasized collective strategies for sustainability and digitalization, with panels covering green fleet financing and cross-border carbon regulation.
Energytec Zone Highlights Alternative Energy Transition
A new Energytec Zone debuted at Marintec China 2025, dedicated to alternative energy sources and their supply chains. Sessions covered hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, electrification, nuclear power, and renewable energy, with keynote addresses from senior executives and classification societies. The zone featured live demonstrations of hydrogen fuel cells and ammonia bunkering systems, highlighting the maritime industry’s urgent need to accelerate the energy transition.
Cruise Interiors Zone Focuses on Passenger Experience
The Cruise Interiors Zone expanded the exhibition’s scope beyond engineering to include passenger-centric innovation. Exhibitors and speakers discussed evolving passenger expectations, sustainability in interiors, and culturally inspired design. Asian cruise operators emphasized the need for interiors that resonate with local cultural aesthetics, while British designers showcased modular cabin layouts for flexible space configuration.
Innovation and International Collaboration
Innovation was a defining theme across the exhibition, with displays of low- and zero-carbon propulsion technologies, smart shipping solutions, and offshore energy equipment. The event also facilitated international collaboration, with agreements signed between European classification societies and Asian shipyards, and partnerships announced for hydrogen bunkering infrastructure and digital port operations. These collaborations underscored the industry’s recognition that global cooperation is essential for tackling decarbonization and digitalization challenges.
The exhibition included the launch of the #MarintecCares programme, which promoted eco-friendly practices such as reduced single-use plastics and energy-efficient lighting. This initiative reinforced sustainability as a central pillar of maritime progress. The next edition of Marintec China is scheduled for late 2027, aiming to build on the momentum of this record-breaking event.
