With the goals of building a maritime power, a talent powerhouse, and a science-and-technology powerhouse, we are committed to cultivating innovative talent in the shipbuilding and marine industries, thereby providing a strong pool of future leaders to drive high-quality development in the sector. On July 13, the 13th National Marine Vehicle Design and Manufacturing Competition (Bohai Rim Regional Contest) and the 4th Marine Renewable Energy Device Design Competition (hereinafter referred to as the “Competition”) were successfully held at Dalian University of Technology.

The National Marine Vehicle Design and Fabrication Competition is the highest-level, largest-scale, and most widely encompassing competition in China’s shipbuilding and marine engineering field, representing the pinnacle of undergraduate innovation contests in this domain. This year’s event is themed “Set Sail on the Blue Ocean, Harness Intelligence to Usher in the Future,” and is guided by the China Association for Science and Technology and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China; supported by the Chinese Society of Higher Education; and organized by China Shipbuilding Group Co., Ltd., the International Organization for Innovation and Cooperation in Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, and the China Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. It is co-hosted by our university, Dalian Ocean University, and the Dalian Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology, with additional support from the Liaoning Provincial Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, the Dalian Municipal Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, the State Key Laboratory of Structural Analysis and Optimization of Industrial Equipment and CAE Software, the State Key Laboratory of Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Dalian COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., Dalian Comair Marine Technology Co., Ltd. Co-organized by DNV GL (China) Co., Ltd., China Merchants Industry Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., and others.

At the opening ceremony, Zhang Yanjun, Vice President of Dalian University of Technology, and Wang Junli, Secretary-General of the China Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, delivered remarks. They extended warm congratulations on the grand inauguration of the competition, underscored its significance, and extended a hearty welcome to participants from across the country. They encouraged the students to contribute meaningfully to building China into a maritime power by drawing on their courage, wisdom, and teamwork. They also expressed the hope that the National Marine Vehicle Design and Manufacturing Competition, as a science and technology contest, will help cultivate young scientific and technological talent and promote the thriving development of China’s marine endeavors.

This competition upholds its longstanding high standards and rigorous judging criteria, adopting a hybrid format that combines on-site contests with live online streaming. The schedule is tightly packed, the competition venues are diverse and dynamic, and the number of participants has reached a new record. A total of 230 teams comprising 989 contestants from 11 schools and institutions across the country have come together to compete, pitting their wisdom against one another and measuring their strengths through on-site defenses, physical demonstrations, and hands-on operations—creating a spectacular “clash of the titans” that fully showcases the spirit and ingenuity of maritime and naval students: their unwavering commitment to exploring the deep blue, their determination to strengthen China’s maritime capabilities, their drive to excel, and their relentless pursuit of excellence.

According to the competition schedule, this event is being held both indoors and outdoors simultaneously. Category A comprises “Three Innovations” (innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship) projects, which are evaluated through indoor oral defenses. During the defenses, contestants confidently and calmly presented their research topics, innovative ideas, and research outcomes, engaging in lively exchanges with the panel of expert judges. Subsequently, the judges posed questions to the contestants on dimensions such as innovativeness, feasibility, and future prospects, shared their insights and perspectives, and provided professional guidance on areas where the contestants’ work could be further improved. In Category D—model simulation and fabrication of famous ships and warships—contestants submitted entries that were not only aesthetically exquisite but also remarkably true to scale and highly faithful to their real-life counterparts. Each ship model was the product of the team’s collective effort and ingenuity, with meticulous attention to detail and innovative design earning high praise from the judges.

On the outdoor competition venue, Events B (Design and Fabrication), C (Smart Ship and Marine Engineering Technology), E (Ship Model Racing), and F (Sailboat Model Racing) were held in a large water tank. The contestants were fully engrossed in the competition, first presenting their design concepts through oral defenses and then showcasing the distinctive features of their entries on-site. Each meticulously crafted entry had its own unique character: some emphasized exquisite aesthetics, with smooth lines and vibrant colors that made them look like works of art; others focused on functional innovation, incorporating cutting-edge technologies and novel structural designs that truly captivated the audience. The atmosphere at the competition site was both tense and well-organized, as contestants continuously fine-tuned their models to achieve the best possible performance during the presentation phase. Meanwhile, the judges closely observed each entry and assigned scores based on multiple criteria, including design innovation, practicality, and visual appeal. The spectators, inspired by the contestants’ enthusiasm and dedication, frequently expressed admiration and applause.

With the first model ship being launched into the water, the C category (Smart Ships and Marine Engineering Technology) and the E category (Model Ship Racing) officially kicked off in the small test pool. Contestants showcased astonishing creativity and superb craftsmanship through their diverse, intricately designed entries. The atmosphere on site was exceptionally vibrant, with spectators gathered around the pool, riveted by the sight of one model ship after another darting across the water—alternating between applause and cheers. Some models bore a striking resemblance to futuristic warships, with sleek lines and a strong high-tech aesthetic; others paid homage to classic sailing vessels, exuding a retro yet elegant charm. The competitors displayed focused concentration and composure, continuously fine-tuning their strategies in response to the unfolding conditions, delivering outstanding performances that earned unanimous praise from the panel of expert judges.

The competition has consistently upheld the guiding principle of “advocating science, pursuing knowledge through practice, fostering bold innovation, focusing on the marine domain, and serving national defense,” with the aim of strengthening college students’ awareness of national defense and the ocean, inspiring in them a spirit of pioneering innovation and diligent scholarship, and promoting scientific and technological innovation as well as talent development among university students.

This competition attracted participation from numerous institutions, including Bohai Shipbuilding Vocational College, Bohai University, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian University of Technology, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin Institute of Technology (Weihai), Wuhan University of Technology, Ocean University of China, the Dalian Naval Academy of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, and the Zhuhai Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, and received coverage from several authoritative media outlets.