Chinese Maritime Code reform

The current Chinese Maritime Code was adopted in 1992 and entered into force in 1993. There is now a project to update the Code to match developing commercial realities.

Institute of Maritime Law members have contributed expertise and research to the reform project by participating in invitational seminars, giving presentations to drafting committee members and offering consultation responses. IML members have published a large number of comparative and analytical studies of current Chinese maritime law. A series of conferences in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2019 on Chinese and English maritime law saw the participation of key members of the Project for the Amendment of the CMC participating on each occasion and resulted in two edited collections on insurance and maritime law in China, published in 2015 and 2016. The Institute's long-standing engagement is evidenced in a recent work by scholars at Peking University charting IML members' involvement in the genesis of the 1993 CMC.

Dr Liang Zhao was funded by University Impact Fund for presenting "Electronic bills of lading legislation: experience from English law for Chinese Maritime Law reform" in 2023 for developing rules of electronic transport document in the CMC.

The CMC was significantly revised in late 2025, passed in October 2025 and effective May 1, 2026, bringing major updates for digital transport records, oil pollution liability, international alignment, and clearer rules for maritime activities, boosting certainty for global shipping and China's marine economy.