On September 26, 2025, Nanjing Maritime Court released a bilingual (Chinese and English) report on its foreign‑related and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan‑related maritime trials, along with ten typical cases.

From January 2020 to June 2025, the Court accepted 1,079 such cases and concluded 863 of them. The number of cases has shown a year-on-year upward trend, with the total amount in dispute exceeding RMB 5.2 billion.

The cases involve 82 countries and regions across five continents and cover 59 distinct types of maritime disputes. Traditional shipping and trade matters—such as freight forwarding, shipping finance, agency services—account for over 90% of foreign‑related cases. Cross‑border e‑commerce cases constitute 23% of all maritime freight forwarding disputes, and cases in emerging sectors such as offshore wind power and smart shipbuilding are on the rise.

The Court has also adjudicated an increasing number of complex cases, including those involving international and cross‑border parallel proceedings, the coordination of litigation and arbitration, and the application of international conventions such as COLREGS 1972, the Athens Convention 1974, and the New York Convention. In over ten cases, the Court facilitated settlements by ascertaining foreign statutory laws or precedents. Nearly 70% of cases were withdrawn following successful mediation or settlement.

The Court has improved the service of process (including electronic means) and streamlined the  operational mechanisms, including the general authorization system for overseas parties and the expedited process for providing security to release arrested ships. It has also issued rules on the ascertainment and application of foreign laws. One case was cited by the Supreme People's Court as a model on foreign law application.

In a collision dispute involving a Chinese and a Panamanian vessel, the Court correctly applied the COLREGS 1972 to apportion liability, and the ruling was accepted by both parties. Furthermore, in a voyage charter case, the Court upheld the validity of an arbitration agreement under Hong Kong's Arbitration Ordinance despite the absence of a designated arbitral institution, demonstrating support for arbitration as a means of dispute resolution.

To date, twelve cases have been included in the Supreme People's Court database, and three have been published in the UK‑based Chinese Maritime and Commercial Law Reports. As a result, in over 20 cases, foreign parties have voluntarily chosen or switched to filing suit at Nanjing Maritime Court.

To foster international cooperation, the Court has also hosted international conferences and dispatched judges for training in Germany and Hong Kong, including the assignment of a judicial assistant to the United Nations Office at Geneva. Furthermore, to enhance international communication, the Court has launched an English audio series, Voice of Maritime Law, and issued bilingual white papers.

Looking ahead, the Court will continue to align with international rules, improve foreign law ascertainment, and strengthen the coordination between litigation and arbitration. By positioning itself as a preferred destination for international maritime dispute resolution, the Court will also regularly publish bilingual white papers and showcase typical cases to share China's maritime justice practices with the global community.

The ten typical cases released cover a wide range of areas, including carriage of goods by sea, marine insurance, ship collision, maritime injunctions, and judicial review of arbitration.