On June 22, the “International Seafarer Shopping Center” officially opened at the Ningbo Beilun RT-Mart Comprehensive Commercial Plaza. This marks a key step for Ningbo in addressing the issue of seafarers’ difficulty in going ashore, transitioning from “channel opening” to “service quality improvement.”
In May this year, Ningbo Maritime Safety Administration, in conjunction with customs and border inspection, issued a notice standardizing seafarer shore leave services at 39 terminal units across the city. However, with the channels for seafarers to “disembark, leave the port, and enter the city” opened, new concerns emerged: once seafarers finally get ashore and into the city, what do they most want to do? To understand the real needs of seafarers, Ningbo Maritime promptly launched a “City Tourism, Culture, and Leisure Needs Survey” targeting the seafarer community. The results showed that over 90% of respondents listed urban commercial areas as their top choice and strongly expressed a desire for a one-stop shopping zone to fulfill their dual wishes of efficient purchasing and relaxation during limited port stays. This demand directly drove the establishment of the “International Seafarer Shopping Center.”
Entering the “International Seafarer Shopping Center” at the Beilun RT-Mart Comprehensive Commercial Plaza, the prominent signage for the “Seafarer Preferred Area” immediately catches the eye. The area features modular shelves neatly stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables, toiletries, instant foods, and other daily necessities for seafarers, while also catering to the need for long-voyage travelers to bring back souvenirs, adding Ningbo specialty items such as youzanzi (fried dough twists) and local pastries for selection. The “Seafarer Dedicated Checkout Lane” is clearly marked with floor decals, effectively reducing waiting times and making the already tight shopping schedule during port calls more relaxed and efficient. In response to foreign seafarers’ keen interest in Chinese smart technology products, the shopping area has introduced a dedicated digital and smart product zone, featuring popular “Made in China” tech items such as Bluetooth headsets, smart wristbands, and power banks. Many foreign seafarers, guided by bilingual store assistants, are trying out and bulk-purchasing these items, preparing to bring this “hard tech” as surprise gifts for their families. “Smart wristbands and Bluetooth headsets are on my shopping list. The International Seafarer Shopping Center is both affordable and convenient—great experience!” a foreign seafarer queuing for tax refund procedures told reporters.
“In the past, when I went ashore at port, I’d search all over the streets for a supermarket, but with tight time and unfamiliar roads, I often ended up with nothing. Now, as soon as I enter the supermarket, I see the seafarer-exclusive area, buy everything in one go, and the prices are reasonable,” said a seafarer who regularly sails on the Ningbo route while shopping on-site. Another seafarer, browsing for items, nodded in agreement: “With the dedicated checkout lane, the time saved lets me look around the area. This feels different—it’s not just about convenience; it’s about feeling seen and valued as seafarers.”
“Seafarers are the labor force of the maritime industry, spending long periods at sea under relatively tough living conditions,” said the head of the Seafarer Management Office at Ningbo Maritime Safety Administration. “By collaborating with the Beilun District Government to establish a shopping center exclusively for seafarers, we aim not only to solve the ‘where to shop’ problem but also to ensure that every seafarer docking in Ningbo can feel the warmth of this port city during their brief stay.” The official also revealed that the next step will involve continuously improving service details and rolling out supporting measures such as a “Port Stay and Travel Guide,” helping to position Ningbo as the “city with the highest sense of well-being for seafarers.”
