Seafarers showcase technical skills during China Maritime Day events

The creative design category featured knot-based works inspired by ships, lighthouses, waves and other maritime elements, reflecting how an ancient craft can be adapted for contemporary cultural expression.

Sailor knots remain a basic but essential skill in maritime work, used in vessel operations, cargo securing and emergency response. Organizers said the competition was designed not only to test professional ability, but also to help the public better understand the craftsmanship, discipline and cooperative spirit behind the shipping industry.

The event also included maritime-themed performances, demonstrations by students from Anhua county in Hunan province, a county supported by COSCO Shipping's assistance programs, and a science-sharing session by Bai Xiang'en, a professor at Shanghai Maritime University and one of China's female Arctic navigators.