On December 24, the “LNG Ship Intelligence and Innovation Laboratory”, jointly established by Shandong Marine Group and Shanghai Maritime University, was officially inaugurated at Shanghai Maritime University, marking its commencement of operations. Jiang Guodong, Party Secretary and Chairman of Shandong Marine Group, and Song Baoru, Party Secretary of Shanghai Maritime University, attended the event and unveiled the laboratory.
In his speech, Jiang Guodong said that in recent years, Shandong Marine Group has been based on the strategic positioning of “Shandong Province’s provincial platform for developing the ocean” and focused on the green and low-carbon development trend of ocean shipping. It has continued to increase investment in LNG ship operation and management, green and intelligent technology research and development and professional talent training, and actively contribute to the high-quality development of the shipping industry.
The establishment of this laboratory represents a pivotal step in deepening strategic cooperation between the university and the enterprise, while also serving as a significant initiative to empower the upgrading of the marine industry and support the development of a maritime power. The Group will leverage its resource advantages to provide abundant application scenarios and practical support for technological R&D and talent cultivation. This will facilitate the implementation and transformation of cutting-edge technologies such as intelligent onboard communication systems and IoT monitoring, helping the industry overcome talent shortages and technical bottlenecks. It will further drive the transformation and upgrading of LNG carriers toward high-end and intelligent solutions.
Song Baoru stated that this collaboration is a concrete measure taken by both the university and the enterprise to implement the national policy on accelerating the cultivation and opening of scenarios and promoting the large-scale application of new scenarios. The laboratory will focus on ship safety, environmental protection, and crew welfare. It will construct and deliver digital twin ships using large LNG carriers as a typical application scenario, supporting ship operation and maintenance management as well as crew skills training. Concurrently, it will independently develop a series of intelligent products including auxiliary navigation systems, energy efficiency management tools, behavioral recognition systems, and crew protection solutions. Through digital and intelligent means, these initiatives will further enhance safety management standards and safeguard national energy security.
On that day, both parties engaged in in-depth discussions on laboratory operational mechanisms, key research topics, and joint talent cultivation programs. They agreed to collaborate on breakthroughs in areas such as intelligent inspection systems for LNG carriers and the development of quality traceability systems. This partnership aims to provide robust support for technological advancements in LNG ship intelligence, drive independent innovation in China’s high-end shipping equipment and industrial chain transformation, and contribute to the high-quality development of the marine industry.