Over recent years, there has been a significant development of quantity and quality in scientific research at DMU. Research funding amounts to 1.8 billion yuan in the past five years. DMU is in charge of 291 national scientific research projects as well as 837 provincial and ministerial projects. Among these projects, 31 are National Key Scientific Research Projects by Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, National Fund Committee and National Bureau of Oceanography; 202 are projects of National Natural Science Fund and 37 of National Social Science Fund. There have been altogether 3872 papers published in SCI, SSCI, El, CSSCI, one of which was rewarded as one of the “Top 100 China’s Most Influential International Academic Paper in 2012”.

In the past five years, DMU has obtained 99 science and technology awards of different levels and disciplines, including 3 National Award, 3 Outstanding Achievement Awards for Scientific Research (of Humanities and Social Science) in higher education institutions nationwide and 11 first prizes of provincial and ministerial science and technology awards. There have been 663 patents applied and 344 authorizations granted. “Marine Desulfurization Technology and its Device” was issued the first principle approval certificate of “Ship Exhaust Gas Cleaning System” by China Classification Society, which marks a step forward in transforming key science research achievements into service industry.

With the steady development of scientific research, the innovation in transportation is encouraged greatly to advance the strategy of strong country by sea and shipment”. DMU has established a number of university collaborative innovation centers focusing on maritime equipment, integrated transport, integrated equipment, intelligent transport, green shipping and marine Silk Road. "Green Shipping and Safety Technology of Collaborative Innovation Center" was identified as Transportation Industry Collaborative Innovation Platform and 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center in Liaoning Province; "Liaoning Integrated Transport Collaborative Innovation Center" was identified as 2011 collaborative innovation center in Liaoning province under construction.

The research bases are under construction continually and fully-equipped bases of open resources have taken shape. These Bases include: 1 national engineering research center, 2 national technological cooperation bases, 3 key laboratories of transportation industry, 8 provincial-level engineering technology centers, 17 provincial and ministerial level key labs and 4 provincial-level key research bases on humanities and social science.