ABSTRACT
In the 21st century, China’s port industry faces both opportunities and challenges. China’s accession into the World Trade Organization in 2001 directly led to a surge in demand for sea-borne transportation. Water-borne transportation originated from the domestic activities of river- or ocean-going and fishing. China’s port industry has experienced dramatic changes since the implementation of Open Door Policy in 1978. The highly centralized governance system did not change until the 1980s. Port ownership was partially transferred from the central government to the local government. The domination of foreign shipping companies in China and the high profitability of the industry gave the Qing government incentives to develop a modern shipping company to take back control of domestic navigation. Chinese shipbuilding commenced in 1860 when the first modern steamship was delivered in Shanghai. Chinese shipyards can be divided into three types: large state-owned yards, large private enterprise or joint-venture yards, and other small-to-medium size yards.
