The first provincial-level crew industry party committee in northern China has been established in Tianjin.

On September 29th, the inaugural meeting of the Chinese Communist Party Tianjin Crew Industry Committee was successfully held in Tianjin. During the meeting, the Tianjin Crew Industry Party Committee was officially unveiled. This is the first of its kind in northern China and the second at the provincial level nationwide among coastal regions, marking the entry of the Party-building work for Tianjin's crew team into a new phase of organization, systematization, and standardization. Representatives from the Tianjin Municipal Social Work Department of the CPC, Tianjin Maritime Safety Administration, Tianjin Municipal People's Government Foreign Affairs Office, and Tianjin Maritime Court attended the conference. Additionally, representatives from the Tianjin Crew Service Industry Association and relevant institutions in Tianjin, along with 90 crew member party representatives, participated in the event.

The Tianjin Maritime Safety Administration's jurisdiction over seafarers on sea-going ships covers Beijing, Tianjin, and seven provinces and two municipalities in the central and western regions. It has a registered workforce of 96,000 seafarers, accounting for one-tenth of the national total, with 125 shipping companies and 95 various crew service agencies. The Tianjin Maritime Safety Administration incorporates the Party-building work of the crew team into the overall industry governance. It has implemented three major projects: "Party-building-led Development," "High-Quality Services," and "Crew Support Initiatives." Furthermore, it has built a grid-based management system for the Party-building work of the crew team, established 68 seafarer service stations, 4 crew rights protection centers, the first national-level crew evaluation center in northern China, and set up dedicated helplines for crew services, thereby laying a solid foundation for the establishment of the industry Party committee. With guidance from the Municipal Social Work Department, the Tianjin Maritime Safety Administration cooperated with the Municipal Foreign Affairs Office and Tianjin Maritime Court to promote the founding of the Tianjin Crew Industry Party Committee.

During the meeting, Wang Ligong, Deputy Minister of the Municipal Social Work Department and Deputy Secretary of the Municipal "Two New" Work Committee, emphasized that the Crew Industry Party Committee should make continuous efforts and meaningful progress in improving institutional mechanisms, innovating work methods, and caring for crew members. Zhao Jianling, Deputy Director of the Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, stated that the office would focus on its international functions, address the safety risks faced by seafarers overseas, and consistently conduct consular protection work for those abroad. Yuan Lianyong, Deputy President of Tianjin Maritime Court, expressed commitment to deepening its core responsibility of maritime justice, focusing on safeguarding seafarers' legitimate rights, supporting the construction of the crew team, and ensuring the growth of the shipping industry as a primary political duty and livelihood project. Tianjin Maritime Safety Administration Director Li Zhiqiang emphasized that the industry Party Committee must firmly implement the working arrangements of the Municipal Social Work Department, fully undertake its leadership, coordination, and service responsibilities. He encouraged all relevant units to work in unison, refine discussion and coordination mechanisms, establish information-sharing systems, and improve joint service approaches to comprehensively support the Party committee in performing its duties according to the rules and making an impact.

Next, the Tianjin Crew Industry Party Committee will fully leverage its role in coordination and guidance, focusing on key tasks such as strengthening the Party’s grid network, appointing Party-building advisors, enhancing and utilizing evaluation centers, upgrading employment platforms, optimizing port services for seafarers, extending medical service chains, improving rights protection, and increasing care and support for crew members. These efforts will cover the full career development cycle of seafarers, promote the deep integration of Party-building and crew service work, act as a reliable "home" for all seafarers, and lead the high-quality development of the crew team through high-quality Party-building. This will contribute to the development of Tianjin as the core area for international shipping in northern China, injecting red energy into accelerating the construction of a strong transportation and maritime nation.