China’s First “Mediation-Arbitration-Litigation” Diversified Dispute Resolution Mechanism for Aids to Navigation Collision Disputes Launched in Xiamen

Xiamen, November 21, 2025 — Seven entities including Xiamen Aids to Navigation Department of Eastern Navigation Service Center, Maritime Safety Administration, Xiamen Maritime Safety Administration, Xiamen Maritime Court, and the Xiamen Representative Office of the International Commercial Dispute Prevention and Settlement Organization (ICDPASO) successfully signed the Memorandum of Cooperation on Encouraging Arbitration for Aids to Navigation Collision and Other Marine Accident Disputes & the “Mediation-Arbitration-Litigation” Diversified Resolution Mechanism in Xiamen Free Trade Zone. Mr. WU Shaoying, Senior Consultant of the ICDPASO (Xiamen) Representative Office, attended the signing ceremony.

Building on the success of China’s first special arbitration case concerning an aids-to-navigation (AtoN) collision, Xiamen Aids to Navigation Department and Xiamen Maritime Safety Administration jointly initiated and led the signing of the Memorandum. It aims at establishing a “one-stop” diversified resolution system for AtoN collision disputes, adhering to the principles of “Prioritize Mediation, Encourage Arbitration, Litigation as Guarantee, Preservation as Support”. This system fully leverages non-litigation resources——including mediation organizations (such as the Xiamen One-Stop Maritime Accident Dispute Resolution Center), arbitration institutions, and service providers——to create a smooth coordination and support mechanism integrating maritime “investigation-mediation-arbitration-litigation”. Parties involved can flexibly choose ICDPASO or other institutions and apply the ICDPASO Commercial Arbitration Rules based on their practical needs, fostering greater certainty regarding dispute resolution in the maritime business environment.

Moving forward, the ICDPASO (Xiamen) Representative Office will continue to leverage the advantages as an international organization and partner with Xiamen Free Trade Zone Administration and Xiamen Maritime Court to develop innovative service and support measures. These efforts are made to broaden the application of the maritime “mediation-arbitration-litigation” mechanism into key shipping sectors covering crew rights protection and carriage of goods by sea, and to steadily advance rule innovation and standard output to address the service needs of the entire port, shipping and trade supply chain, thereby contributing to establishing Xiamen as a preferred venue for international maritime and commercial dispute resolution.