Official visit of the Director General to China

At the invitation of the China Maritime Safety Administration (MSA), IMSO Director General Laurent Parenté undertook an official visit to China, which included participation in the North Bund Forum 2025 in Shanghai. The Forum is a major international event focused on innovation, digitalisation and green transformation in the global shipping industry.

In his contribution on “Satellite Communication – The Backbone of Maritime Safety in a Changing World”, he highlighted the essential role of satellite connectivity in ensuring safe, reliable and accountable maritime operations as technology and the industry continue to evolve. He also paid tribute to the providers supporting the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) — Viasat Inmarsat, Iridium and soon the BeiDou Message Service System whose commitment ensures the continuity of vital safety communications for ships worldwide.

During his visit to Shanghai, the Director General toured the Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) Centre of the Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration (MSA), which oversees vessel movements along the Yangtze River, one of the busiest and most complex waterways in the world.

He then travelled to Beijing, where he met with Mr. Xu Wei, Executive Director General of the China Maritime Safety Administration and Dr Zhang Yongqiang, President of China Transport Telecommunication Information Group Co (CTTIC) for discussions on the integration of BeiDou message services into the GMDSS as well as on the future development and status of both the GMDSS and the LRIT systems.

IMSO thanks the China Maritime Safety Administration for its kind invitation and excellent cooperation throughout the visit.