China News Service, Ningbo, June 22 (Wang Yifei, Xiao Yue, Xi Yujia) On the 22nd, the “International Seafarer Shopping Center” debuted at the Ningbo Beilun RT-Mart Comprehensive Commercial Plaza, marking a key step for Ningbo in solving the problem of seafarers’ “difficulty in going ashore,” transitioning from “channel opening” to “service quality improvement.”
Freedom and convenience in going ashore are common demands of the seafarer community. On May 18, the Ningbo Maritime Safety Administration, jointly with customs and border inspection, issued a notice that 39 terminal units in the city have achieved standardized seafarer shore leave services. A reporter learned from the Zhejiang Maritime Safety Administration that in the past month, 5,853 seafarers have conveniently entered and exited the Ningbo port area via free shuttle vehicles, third-party shuttle vehicles, walking, and other means, including over 100 international seafarers from eight countries such as India, the Philippines, and France.
After the above policy opened the channel for seafarers to “disembark, leave the port, and enter the city,” the maritime authority conducted a demand collection activity among the seafarer community. The results showed that over 90% of respondents listed the urban commercial district as their first choice and strongly hoped for the establishment of a one-stop shopping zone to meet the dual desires of seafarers for efficient purchasing and relaxation during their limited port stay.
This directly promoted the implementation of the “International Seafarer Shopping Center.” Inside the center, the signage for the “Seafarer Preferred Zone” is particularly eye-catching. The area features modular shelves neatly displaying fresh fruits and vegetables, toiletries, instant food, and other daily necessities for seafarers, while also catering to the needs of long-voyage sailors for bringing back souvenirs, with an added selection of Ningbo specialty products. In response to foreign seafarers’ strong interest in Chinese smart technology products, the shopping area has also specially introduced a digital smart product zone.
At the same time, the “Seafarer Dedicated Checkout Channel” is guided by clear signage, effectively shortening waiting times and making the already tight shopping schedule during port calls more relaxed and efficient.
“Promoting the construction of a shopping center exclusive to the seafarer community is intended to allow every seafarer docking to feel the city’s warmth during their brief stay,” said a responsible person from the Seafarer Management Office of the Ningbo Maritime Safety Administration. The next step, the maritime authority will continue to refine service details and successively launch supporting measures such as the “Port Stop Travel Guide” to help build Ningbo into a “city with the highest sense of happiness for seafarers.” (End)
