Fostering Connections Between the UK and the Far East

The Chinese Shipping Association of London (CSAL) serves as a vital conduit, linking the UK’s maritime services sector with key stakeholders across the Far East. Established by British and Overseas Chinese maritime professionals, CSAL enriches London’s esteemed role as a preeminent global shipping hub.

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Building Bridges for a Collaborative Global Economy

We extend a warm invitation to our community, as we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to reconnect. CSAL events aim to facilitate meaningful interactions, fostering new relationships, and promoting the exchange of ideas, to explore the boundaries of our comfort zone, enriching our collective knowledge.
As we endeavour to create an environment of knowledge and collaboration, we earnestly request your presence and active participation.
Please check back soon or join our mailing list to receive information when it is ready.

Upcoming in 2025

Roundtable: Global Shipping Outlook, Risk Management & Green Development

Jinmao Tower, Pudong, Shanghai | Afternoon of 2 December 2025

The Chinese Shipping Association of London (CSAL) is proud to participate in Shanghai Pudong Shipping Week 2025 with a series of high-level engagements designed to deepen global maritime cooperation, highlight international expertise, and build new bridges across shipping finance, risk management and innovation.
Register Now

Events Archive

3 December - 2024 - Risk, Innovation, Infrastructure and Sustainability
CSAL is hosting a seminar and networking event during the 2024 Pudong Shipping Week, bringing industry leaders together to discuss decarbonization, risk management, and innovation in shipping.

View event archive

An insightful dialogue exploring changing global economic conditions and their impact on the shipping industry. Increasingly complex dynamics in the macro environment and shifting trade patterns are creating conditions which present both challenges and opportunities. Our panel of experts shared their analysis on navigating the market during these uncertain times.

View event archive

CSAL supported a private dinner during Iron Ore Week in Singapore, attended by at least 12 trading house principals. The event focused on sharing information about the FFA industry’s state and discussing the incoming cap-and-trade EU ETS.

For London International Shipping Week, we are pleased to announce that we held a seminar and reception with overseas partners at One Great George Street. Click here to visit the event page.

Mandate

CSAL members naturally facilitate a bridge between Global Britain and the Far East. We stand as a collective network that fortifies connections between the UK’s maritime sector and the Asian marketplace, offering our members access to an invaluable sphere of influence.
Our mission is to cultivate and expand this network, welcoming esteemed professionals and enterprises, while providing future members with exclusive access to influential market leaders. In addition to organising events and webinars that foster insightful dialogue and experience sharing, we offer tailored support to our members. We assist on a one-on-one basis, addressing individual requests to connect with potential buyers and collaborators, thereby facilitating opportunities that may otherwise be out of reach.

We address the complexities of global fragmentation and technological decoupling by dismantling barriers to communication, navigating linguistic and cultural differences to ensure meaningful engagement and collaboration.

Transparency

The Chinese Shipping Association of London’s focus is on shipping transportation issues, fostering cross-border collaboration for ethical business, cleaner oceans, improved supply chains, and the well-being of seafarers.
CSAL was formed in 2017 with support from the Baltic Exchange (as one of its societies) and COSCO UK, and registered in the UK in 2021 as an association.
We currently accept sponsorship on a per-event basis, while we plan to generate membership fees in the future for our ongoing activities.

CSAL Executive Committee

Zhang Yun

Zhang Yun is the Managing Director of EGPN Bulk Carrier Ltd, a UK and Hong Kong based Chinese ship owner, who has more…

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Wei Hu

Director of Sinotrans UK, Hu Wei has worked in the shipping industry for more than 30 years. He started dry bulk ship chartering in Sinochart…

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Eli Tchou

Formerly at the Baltic Exchange and TradeWinds, Eli has been involved in organising events and producing marketing content…

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Nick Woo

Nicholas is a Partner in Birketts’ Shipping and International Trade Team and an accredited CEDR (Council of Effective Dispute…

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Lianghui Xia

Lianghui Xia has 20 years of experience in commercial roles across prominent shipowners and shipbroking firms in Oslo, Copenhagen…

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Henry Guo

Henry was the former Head of Chartering and Raw Materials of ArcelorMittal Shipping in London, one of the largest shipping…

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Historical Highlights

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Townhall

In late 2016, British and Overseas Chinese shipping professionals self-organised a town hall meeting attended by over 50 people. They identified a significant communication gap between the maritime communities of the UK and China due to language, cultural and communication platforms differences, and the lack of opportunities for interaction. Thus CSAL was formed to address this gap.

Inaugural event

CSAL’s inaugural event was held at Baltic Exchange’s iconic location at 38 St Mary Axe in 2017. The seminar featured renowned speakers such as Simon Young, then Head of Cosco UK, maritime expert Martin Stopford and representatives from both the physical and paper markets. Attendees had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion before networking over drinks.

Gatherings

CSAL has hosted a variety of informal gatherings through 2017-2019, including a British and Chinese wines tasting event co-hosted with the London Maritime Arbitration Association, a karaoke night that was mentioned in TradeWinds, and a festive Chinese New Year dinner buffet. Each event provided a fun and relaxing atmosphere, fostering new connections and strengthening existing ones.

LISW 2019

CSAL was approached by Maritime London and the Department for International Trade to help organise an event aimed at matching maritime service providers with potential clients during London International Shipping Week in 2019. The event was held at the Leadenhall Building, also known as the Cheesegrater, and CSAL provided industry knowledge and contacts, which resulted in high attendance by buyers from overseas.

Growth

In 2021, CSAL registered as a not-for-profit entity with Directors chosen from the initial group of volunteer executive committee members. In 2023, CSAL came out of hiatus with a series of digital and IRL events as well as recruited new Board Members and executive colleagues following a seminar and reception during London International Shipping Week 2023.

Contact

We value your feedback! If you have any comments or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through the contact form on our website.

We are also calling for sponsors for our next events in 2024. Contact us to discuss opportunities to get involved.

Previous sponsors of our events included: COSCO UK, Baltic Exchange, UK P&I Club, Clarksons, EGPN Bulk, Pudong Shipping, Freight Investor Services, Profision Capital Management, and more

Zhang Yun

Zhang Yun is the Managing Director of EGPN Bulk Carrier Ltd, a UK and Hong Kong based Chinese ship owner, who has more…

Wei Hu

Director of Sinotrans UK, Hu Wei has worked in the shipping industry for more than 30 years. He started dry bulk ship chartering in Sinochart

Eli Tchou

Formerly at the Baltic Exchange and TradeWinds, Eli has been involved in organising events and producing marketing content

Nick Woo

Nicholas is a Partner in Birketts’ Shipping and International Trade Team and an accredited CEDR (Council of Effective Dispute

Lianghui Xia

Lianghui Xia has 20 years of experience in commercial roles across prominent shipowners and shipbroking firms in Oslo, Copenhagen

Henry Guo

Zhang Yun is the Managing Director of EGPN Bulk Carrier Ltd, a UK and Hong Kong based Chinese ship owner, who has more…