July 14, 2008 witnessed the founding of Shanghai International Shipping Institute (SISI) inaugurated by government officials from Ministry of Transport and Shanghai Municipality. Han Zheng, the then Deputy Secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and Mayor of Shanghai sent a letter of congratulations.

SISI, affiliated to Shanghai Maritime University, is launched by 21 council members. The first session council chair unit was China Shipping (Group) Company. The second session council chair unit is Shanghai International Port (Group) Co. Ltd, while vice council chair unit comprises 22 institutions including China Shipping (Group) Company, Shanghai Group Port Administration Committee, Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration, Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Shanghai Municipal Transport Commission, Hongkou District People’s Government, Wuhan New Port Administration Committee, China Academy of Transportation Sciences, Transport Planning and Research Institute (affiliated to China’s Ministry of Transport, hereafter referred to as MOT), China Waterborne Transport Research Institute, COSCO Container Lines Co. Ltd, Sinotrans Eastern Co. Ltd, Shanghai Jinjiang Shipping Co. Ltd, Shanghai Shipping Exchange, China Ports Association, Shanghai Shipowners’ Association, Shanghai Freight Forwarders Association, World Maritime University, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Ningbo University, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, etc. The number of our registered council members hit nearly 400 as of September 2015.   

Against the backdrop of Shanghai international shipping centre construction, SISI endeavors to contribute its share to China’s maritime industry and Shanghai’s rise as a maritime capital by establishing extensive ties with international maritime organizations, companies and colleges, networking top experts via our research platform which tracks fresh concept, technology and trend on the global maritime scene.

SISI is an international maritime consultation and research institute providing government agencies and industry players with decision-making information and consultation service.

SISI is open to government agencies, port authorities, maritime companies, educational institutions, research institutes, industrial associations and organizations etc, integrating efforts in maritime production, study and research.

SISI  is one of the earliest institutions entitled Shanghai University Knowledge Service Platform & Center for Strategic Studies and Key Research Institute of Humanities and Social  Sciences. In 2014, SISI was recognized as Collaborative Innovation Center of Shanghai University.

SISI serves as a key government think tank. In August 2012, Ministry of Transport (MOT) and Shanghai Municipal People's Government signed a Memorandum on Deepening Cooperation to Accelerate Shanghai's Rise as an International Shipping Center which specifies that the two parties will work together to support Shanghai's development into an international shipping center. Since then, SISI was co-sponsored by Shanghai Maritime University and Shanghai Municipal Transport Commission. Weng Mengyong, vice minister of MOT visited SISI in April, 2015. 

Three Main Functions

●     Function 1. Decision-making consultation

Analyze and grasp the growing trend of shipping and port industry; provide sound proposals for government agencies as well as shipping and port enterprises; become instrumental as government's maritime policy think tank and industry players' advisor; and strive for a world-famous consultancy specializing in shipping.

●     Function 2. Information release

Collect and compile/analyze statistics and information regarding shipping and port business, aviation, shipping finance, seaborne trade, maritime judicature etc; publish regular reports on international and domestic shipping market as well as global port industry, and release China Shipping Prosperity Index; publish Global Aviation Industry Development Report, China Shipping  Finance Development Report, China Cruise Industry Development Report, China Cruise Market Development Report, Shanghai Shipping Policy and Law Development White Paper etc.; launch China Shipping Database and Shipping & Port Big Data Laboratory; host international shipping and port conferences.

●     Function 3. Talent service

Set up open platform for shipping communications and exchanges; network with top shipping experts, scholars and entrepreneurs and integrate their expertise in shipping research; and offer shipping talent training programs and lectures; establish bases for young teachers' practice, postgraduates' cultivation and college students' innovation to create a platform for the gathering of shipping talents.