China's first association for marine equipment manufacturers, the Taizhou Marine Equipment Development Association, was launched in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province, on Aug 29. 

The unveiling ceremony was attended by over 80 representatives from local maritime, economic, port, and industry authorities, along with member enterprises.

The association aims to integrate resources across the industry value chain, promote self-regulation, and enhance the influence of Taizhou's marine equipment brands. It will also support coordinated development across shipbuilding and related sectors.

As a key base for shipbuilding and supporting industries, Taizhou hosts over 100 enterprises specializing in hull equipment, machinery, safety, and firefighting products. The sector generates an annual output value exceeding 7 billion yuan (about $981 million). Despite having a complete supply chain and the potential to form an industrial cluster, the industry faces challenges, such as reliance on traditional technologies, limited research investment, and low adoption of smart manufacturing.

Authorities initiated the formation of the association to address these gaps, with the goal of strengthening brand competitiveness and fostering collaboration across shipbuilding and its upstream and downstream sectors.

The association plans to promote innovation, quality-driven growth, and sustainable manufacturing. It will establish a traceable quality system, act as a bridge between policymakers and enterprises, and help Taizhou's marine equipment industry integrate more deeply into the national shipbuilding network.