Located in Dalian, Liaoning Province, Dalian Maritime University (DMU) is a prestigious institution of higher learning with a rich history and distinctive characteristics. It is the only university directly under the Ministry of Transport and is among the first batch of institutions included in China’s “Project 211” and “the First-class University and Discipline in the World” initiative. Born out of the needs of maritime affairs, DMU’s development embodies the progress of China’s higher maritime education. It was founded in 1909 toward the end of the Qing Dynasty as the Shipping Management Section of Shanghai Industrial College under the Ministry of Posts and Communications to “safeguard maritime rights and rejuvenate the nation.” Despite challenges, including several relocations and name changes, DMU has consistently upheld its mission and continued to thrive on its deep connection to the sea.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Shanghai Nautical College and the Northeast Navigation College merged to form Dalian Marine College in February 1953. In November of the same year, Fujian Navigation School was incorporated, making Dalian Marine College the only higher maritime institution in the newly founded PRC. In 1960, it was designated as a national key university, and in 1963, the State Council approved the implementation of semi-military management for the university. Since reform and opening-up, the university has experienced rapid development, contributing significantly to the nation’s shipping industry by cultivating numerous talents, earning the reputation as the “cradle of navigators.” In 1994, it was renamed Dalian Maritime University. By adhering to its unique characteristics and strengthening internal development, the university has ranked among the world’s leading maritime institutions in terms of scale and academic research. Entering the new era, DMU is committed to becoming a world-class research-oriented maritime university, striving to contribute to the development of China with strong transportation strength.

Dalian Maritime University offers a wide range of disciplines, including philosophy, economics, law, literature, science, engineering, management, and interdisciplinary studies, encompassing eight major categories. It has 21 teaching and research institutions. The university currently enrolls 17,956 full-time undergraduates, 8,129 postgraduates, and 7,538 others, including international students. The faculty comprises 1,686 full-time teachers, including 58 national high-level talents, 20 national leading talents, 20 national young talents, and three national innovation teams. DMU offers 54 undergraduate programs, with 80% directly serving the maritime industrial chain. It has 10 first-level discipline doctoral programs, 24 first-level discipline master’s programs, two professional doctoral degree programs, 16 professional master’s degree programs, and seven post-doctoral research stations. The Transportation Engineering discipline is included in the national “first-class” disciplines, and four disciplines, including Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, are selected as first-class disciplines of Liaoning Province. Disciplines such as Engineering, Computer Science, General Social Sciences, Environmental Science/Ecology, Materials Science, Chemistry, and Earth Science rank among top 1% of the ESI global rankings, with Engineering entering the top 1‰. The university covers an area of 1.4631 million square meters, with 160 buildings totaling 945,700 square meters. Its two libraries house 2.513 million books and over 2.3 million electronic books, and are designed with various learning and discussion spaces. DMU also possesses two ocean-going teaching and training vessels and an intelligent research and training ship integrating remote control, autonomous navigation, and teaching practice.

Dalian Maritime University is dedicated to maritime talent cultivation, firmly performing the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education. It aims to train high-quality professionals with patriotism, global vision, comprehensive literacy, and innovative abilities. DMU boasts several “firsts” in China’s shipping industry, including the first Chinese ocean-going ship captain, Chen Ganqing; the pioneer of Chinese pilot, Ma Jiajun; the first ocean-going captain of the newly founded PRC, Chen Hongze; the first Sino-US shipping line ocean-going ship captain of the PRC, Bei Hanting; the first female ocean-going chief engineer, Wang Yafu; the first Minister of Transport with a career background as a captain, Qian Yongchang; the leading drafter of China’s first “Maritime Code,” Si Yuzhuo; and one of the first female deep-sea oceanaut, Zhao Shengya and so on. Currently, nearly 200,000 graduates are working across the globe, serving as the main force in the national shipping industry and as industry elites and pillars of society contributing to economic and social development. Dalian Maritime University boasts 19 national first-class programs, one national teaching master, two national teaching teams, three national experimental teaching demonstration centers, one national virtual simulation experimental teaching center, three national virtual teaching and research office construction pilots, one national collaborative education and innovation base for foreign-related legal talents (cultivation), 29 national first-class undergraduate courses, nine national higher education teaching achievement awards, and one national advanced collective in textbook development.

Founded in 1909, Dalian Maritime University is a prestigious institution with 3,000 faculty members. The university hosts 20 national first-class major construction sites and provincial first-class major construction sites, offering 54 undergraduate majors and encompassing 19 disciplines.

DMU is committed to maritime-oriented technological innovation, aligning with national strategies and responding to the needs of the industry and local development. It focuses on major national strategies such as building China into a country with strong transportation and maritime strength, and steadily advances the pilot tasks for building a strong transportation nation. The university has made significant strides in areas like next-generation maritime communication, unmanned ships, ship pollution control, and subsea engineering, achieving breakthroughs in key technologies and original innovations with independent intellectual property rights. It has spearheaded 200 major national projects in fields such as hydrogen-powered ships, transport equipment, smart ports, and deep-sea engineering. DMU also serves as a high-end national think tank in maritime fields, providing intellectual support for safeguarding national maritime rights. Its policy recommendations have garnered 75 approvals from national and party leaders. The university has established strategic partnerships with industry regulators, such as Maritime Safety Administration of the PRC, China Rescue & Salvage, Changjiang River Administration of Navigational Affairs and leading enterprises, including China COSCO Shipping Corporation, China Merchants Group, and China Communications Construction Company Limited.

DMU boasts cutting-edge facilities, including one national key laboratory, two national engineering research centers, two national international science and technology cooperation bases, three national innovation and talent recruitment bases, and one national collaborative innovation center. It is also home to a national innovation talent training demonstration base and a national science popularization education base, 51 provincial and ministerial-level key research platforms and bases in natural sciences. In humanities and social sciences fields, it has seven provincial bases and nine provincial-level key think tanks. The university has been awarded 80 national and provincial Natural Science Awards, Technological Innovation Awards, and Science and Technology Achievement Awards. Additionally, it has been recognized by the Ministry of Education for outstanding research in the humanities and social sciences, receiving one first prize, two second prizes, and four third prizes.

DMU is committed to promoting and innovating maritime culture while preserving its heritage. Guided by the values of being a “university run by the Party and trusted by the Party” and a “university of the maritime industry and for the maritime industry,” the university utilizes its dedicated teaching and training ships, Yukun and Yupeng, to engage in cultural and academic exchanges across more than 10 countries and regions, spreading Chinese culture. The university is home to China’s first Maritime Education Museum and has been recognized as a base for the inheritance of excellent traditional Chinese culture, a national marine culture education base, a national transportation science education base, and a national research and practice education base for primary and secondary school students. It has led the compilation of several key historical works on transportation, including The History of Ancient Chinese Navigation, The History of Modern Chinese Shipping Development, The History of Chinese Waterborne Transport, and The History of Chinese Seafarers. Original maritime cultural works such as Cradle of Navigation, Maritime Academy, Sailing Far on the Wind, and Dreaming of the Blue have become widely known and cherished. Over the years, the university has cultivated numerous role models, including national Role Model of the Times, national teaching and education exemplars, national model teachers, and annual figures in the transportation sector. It has been honored as the National Civilized Unit, the National Civilized Campus, the Civilized Campus of Liaoning Province, and one of Liaoning’s Most Beautiful Campuses.

DMU adheres to an open development strategy, firmly embracing diverse cooperation and engaging in global maritime governance. DMU has established partnerships with 176 universities and research institutions across 46 countries and regions. In 2007, it founded an overseas campus in Sri Lanka, marking the beginning of China’s higher maritime education overseas. DMU collaborates with the University of Houston to run the Houston International Institute, with the World Maritime University to offer a joint master’s program in Maritime Management (Maritime Safety and Environmental Management), and with Swansea University in the UK to provide an undergraduate law program. These initiatives set a benchmark for comprehensive and multi-layered Sino-foreign cooperation in running schools. Actively engaging in international maritime affairs, DMU will serve as the chair institution of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) for the 2025–2027 term. Over the past two years, DMU has sent 76 person-times for International Maritime Organization (IMO) meetings as key negotiators and expert consultants for the Chinese delegation, submitting over 140 proposals. Among these, proposals on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping and improving the operational energy efficiency of vessels accounted for over 90% of China’s contributions. DMU also became the first Chinese institution to lead the development of an IMO model course, shifting China’s role in maritime governance from participation to leadership. Two consecutive IMO secretaries-general have been awarded honorary doctorates by DMU. Former Secretary-General Kitack Lim praised the university’s achievements, stating that DMU as a global center of excellence in maritime education is a source of pride for China and a model for outstanding maritime education worldwide.

Continuing on the path of building a great socialist country, and rowing with vigor to unfold a new chapter, Dalian Maritime University will adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, always keep in mind that "Dalian Maritime University belongs to the sea", take root in the soil of China, develop distinctive maritime characteristics, strive to lead maritime education, promote transportation development, and steadfastly advance toward the goal of becoming a world-class research-oriented maritime university. By leveraging the strength of maritime education, we will solidify the cornerstone for satisfying the people, and through the strengthening of maritime education, we will lay a solid foundation for building China into a country with strong transportation network.

Motto of Dalian Maritime University: 

Gathering knowledge from myriad sources, extending virtue to the boundless seas.

Spirit of Dalian Maritime University: 

Resolve, Rigor, Diligence, Innovation.

Tradition of Dalian Maritime University:

Helping Each Other in Adversity

Enduring Hardships with Unparalleled Perseverance

Navigating the Seas with Scientific Approach

Patriotism as Our Deep-rooted Foundation.

The Learning Philosophy of Dalian Maritime University:

Having an in-depth quest for the acquisition of truth

Fostering moral integrity for the benefit of all

Striving hard for the service of homeland and the people

Achieving excellence for the development of maritime industry

(The above statistics are accurate as of January 2024.)