The second "COSCO SHIPPING Cup" Sailor Knot Contest Finals were held in Yangzhou, Jiangsu.

On July 9, the finals of the second "COSCO Shipping Cup" Sailor Knot Competition were successfully held at the gymnasium of Jiangsu Yangzhou Vocational University. As one of the important series of events for China's Maritime Day in 2026, this competition, themed "Knots Connecting the Seas, Craftsmanship Accompanying Voyages," was co-hosted by COSCO Shipping Group and the China Institute of Navigation. A total of 20 contestants from the professional and academic groups of national port and shipping enterprises and maritime colleges gathered at the finals to compete in a peak showdown. Over 150 industry guests, maritime culture enthusiasts, and media representatives witnessed this pinnacle competition of dexterity.

Zhang Shanmin, Chairman of the Trade Union of COSCO Shipping Group, Li Shixin, Executive Vice President of the China Institute of Navigation, and Li Zhipeng, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice President of Shanghai Maritime University, attended and delivered speeches.

Zhang Shanmin stated that the sailor knot is a typical symbol of the original intention and professional foundation of seafarers. A single knot ties the ship and sail, safeguards navigation and safety, embodies the team spirit of mutual support and collaboration, carries the innovative spirit of pioneering and progress, and highlights the resilience to face challenges and overcome difficulties. Through the sailor knot competition, the knotting skills, originally exclusive to maritime professionals, have entered the public eye. These small knots have become an effective carrier of maritime culture, continuously uniting the industry and expanding maritime influence, while cultivating talent and spiritual momentum for the sustainable and high-quality development of the shipping industry. COSCO Shipping Group has always adhered to caring for seafarers and nurturing teams, while deeply cultivating the inheritance of maritime culture and promoting the maritime spirit of the new era. Through skill competitions, maritime science popularization, cultural-themed activities, and other diverse forms, the group revitalizes traditional maritime skills and spreads the essence of maritime spirit.

In his speech, Li Shixin remarked that the reason a simple knot has been passed down through millennia lies in the maritime spirit ingrained in seafarers. Firstly, it represents the "one knot for safety" mindset, as every sailor knot is crucial to the safety of ships and personnel. Secondly, it embodies the "thousands of knots to uphold the original intention" craftsmanship, requiring countless repetitions to achieve accuracy and reliability under any conditions. Lastly, it symbolizes the "one rope connecting past and present" cultural roots, with knots containing the maritime wisdom of the Chinese nation spanning thousands of years.

Li Zhipeng stated that the sailor knot is a skill passed down through generations of seafarers, encapsulating thousands of years of maritime wisdom and serving as the most vivid and authentic symbol of maritime culture. The sailor knot competition showcased skills, collaboration, and culture. With professionals and students competing on the same stage, frontline employees and students exchanged techniques, promoting learning through competition and enhancing abilities. This is a vivid practice of industry-education integration and collaborative talent cultivation, which is of great significance for building a high-quality skilled workforce in the port and shipping industry.

Speed at Fingertips, True Skills in a Small Space

The finals consisted of three rounds, comprehensively testing the contestants' knotting skills, practical application, and creative design abilities.

At 9 a.m., with the chief referee's command, the first round, the knotting speed competition, began. Contestants from the professional and academic groups were divided into groups of 10 through a draw. Each group competed simultaneously on stage, with each contestant required to complete 10 designated sailor knots in sequence within 3 minutes.

On the competition stage, contestants focused intently, their fingers moving swiftly like shuttles. Ropes quickly passed through their hands, intertwining, wrapping, and tightening. In just moments, knots such as square knots, figure-eight knots, and clove hitches were formed one after another and neatly placed on the card racks. Professional contestants displayed clean and efficient movements, showcasing the solid skills honed through years of maritime experience. Meanwhile, the academic group students performed confidently, demonstrating skilled and steady techniques, fully embodying the vitality of the new generation of seafarers.

The referee explained that the speed competition not only measured completion time but also evaluated the accuracy, firmness, neatness, and aesthetic quality of the knots, as well as whether they were placed in the correct sequence according to the card. "It's not enough to tie knots quickly; they must also be accurate, firm, and beautiful."

Practical Demonstration, Teamwork Showcasing Craftsmanship

If the speed competition was the ultimate display of individual skills, the second round, the application competition, was a comprehensive test of team coordination and practical abilities. This round focused on core operational scenarios in shipping, with professional and academic groups divided into four teams of five contestants each through a draw. Each team demonstrated the practical application of knots based on a set scenario.

The professional group began with the "Stretcher Rescue Challenge." Each team had 10 minutes to use synthetic ropes, hardwood sticks, and other materials to construct a rescue stretcher. Tying, reinforcing, testing... team members divided tasks clearly and cooperated seamlessly. The knots were tight and firm, with evenly spaced and aesthetically pleasing intervals. Once the stretcher was completed, one team member acted as the injured person, while the other four worked together to lift and transport them to the rescue point as quickly and steadily as possible. The entire process was smooth and fluid, fully demonstrating the crew's emergency response capabilities and teamwork in critical situations.

The academic group's "Creative Rope Use for Barrel Transport Competition" was equally exciting. Contestants used barrel knots combined with stick knots to secure paint barrels or bottle neck knots with stick knots to secure water barrels, transporting the goods to designated locations. The knots were appropriately tight, and the cargo remained stable without falling. Although it was a simulated scenario, it showcased the meticulous and rigorous work style of seafarers.

Creative Brilliance, Revitalizing Ancient Skills

The most refreshing part was the creative knot competition. This segment focused on innovative applications and design expressions of sailor knots, emphasizing creativity, practicality, and aesthetics. Contestants used sailor knots as the core medium for their creations, integrating maritime elements and completing their works in advance. They also recorded 3-5 minute videos of the creative process, including the start, knotting process, and final product display. Before the finals, the judging panel reviewed the videos, preliminarily scored the works, and selected five pieces from each group.

At the finals, the shortlisted contestants took turns presenting their works. Each creation was unique and ingenious—some were inspired by ocean liners, with knots interwoven to depict the momentum of riding the waves; others drew from biological forms, such as a butterfly spreading its wings amidst the waves, vibrant and full of life. Some used ropes of varying thickness to create layered, intertwined designs, replicating the silhouette of a towering lighthouse. The knots symbolized unwavering guardianship, encapsulating the gentle intention of guiding ships home and ensuring safe voyages within the intricate rope art.

The names of the works were equally meaningful: "Tidal Light and Dragonfly Wings," "Knots Containing Mountains and Seas," "Anchored Ship Sailing Far," "Beacon Illuminating the Seas," "Lighthouse Knot: Light of Navigation," "Butterfly Sails Chasing Waves: Connecting the Seas," and "Silken Rope Weaving Airships: Sailing Thousands of Miles on Green Waves." Each poetic name conveyed the deep affection and reverence of seafarers for the sea. After all the presentations, the audience voted for their favorite works, and the contestant with the highest votes was awarded the title of "Creative King" for their group.

Inspiring Spirit, Maritime Values Stir the Soul

Beyond the competition, a cultural warmth also flowed. The COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Yangzhou Band opened the event with songs, blending the charm of Jiangnan with maritime passion.

Children from COSCO Shipping's designated poverty alleviation county, Anhua County in Hunan Province, demonstrated sailor knot skills on-site. These youngsters from the mountains used their tender hands to create maritime knots passed down for centuries, telling the touching story of maritime culture taking root and flourishing in the mountains. Xia Xinwang, an eighth-grade student from Nanjin Township Middle School in Anhua County and a representative of the first "COSCO Shipping Cup" Sailor Knot Competition youth group team champions, shared: "Last year, our Anhua youth team won the championship in the youth group of the first competition. The good news spread back to the mountains, and the campus was abuzz with excitement. After returning as champions, Nanjin Township Primary School and General Primary School established sailor knot clubs. Having once practiced knots diligently, I became the 'little master' in the eyes of my younger schoolmates. I not only teach knotting techniques but also share real-life applications of each knot, as told by captains. I also guide my classmates in discovering the practical uses of knots in daily life, such as bundling firewood, hanging banners, tying farm tools, and drying crops. The skills from the competition gradually integrated into everyday mountain life, making sailor knots a practical skill for everyone. I pass on all the knotting techniques and maritime stories I've learned, allowing more mountain children to touch the ropes and see the distant sea. A single rope, a thousand knotting methods; a deep mountain, a vast ocean. In the past, the mountains of Anhua and the distant ocean were separated by thousands of miles. It was COSCO Shipping's 15 years of targeted assistance that built a bridge between the mountains and the sea. Now, a sailor knot has become a bond, helping mountain children understand the unique maritime culture of the deep blue sea."

Captain Bai Xiangen, China's first female maritime navigator to cross the Arctic Ocean and a professor at Shanghai Maritime University, shared her maritime experiences and science stories. In 2012, she served as the only maritime volunteer aboard the polar research icebreaker "Xuelong," successfully completing a scientific expedition in the Arctic Ocean's icy and perilous waters with her exceptional maritime skills and unwavering determination. In recent years, she has devoted herself to maritime science popularization, with over 300 short science videos played on platforms such as Douyin, WeChat Video, Bilibili, Xiaohongshu, and Kuaishou, garnering billions of views. Captain Bai's science outreach has drawn more attention to maritime affairs, enhanced public awareness of scientific innovation and the pioneering maritime spirit, and inspired young people to develop an interest in maritime careers. Her efforts contribute to talent preparation for the national maritime power strategy and the Belt and Road Initiative. "Maritime knows no boundaries; strive to be the best version of yourself." Her sharing allowed the audience to feel the courage and responsibility of seafarers.

From solitary sails and compasses cutting through waves to giant ships navigating the oceans, China's maritime industry is undergoing a historic transformation. The second "COSCO Shipping Cup" Sailor Knot Competition, through high-level skill contests and cultural displays, has revitalized this ancient craft. On the competition stage, contestants made friends through skills and honed their abilities through competition, deepening consensus and fostering recognition through exchanges. This event not only created a strong atmosphere for China's Maritime Day in 2026 but also deeply ingrained the theme of "Knots Connecting the Seas, Craftsmanship Accompanying Voyages" in people's hearts. It united thoughts and actions to inherit maritime culture and promote maritime spirit, injecting strong momentum into the construction of a maritime power and a shipping power.

After fierce competition, the contestants' superb skills won rounds of applause from the audience. Leaders from COSCO Shipping Group, the China Institute of Navigation, and the China Seamen's Construction Union presented awards to the winners.

Li Zhenbao, a teacher at Dalian Maritime University and a cultural inheritor of "Chinese Knots," Liu Hong, Vice Principal of Qinhuangdao Xingrong Maritime Secondary Vocational School, Wang Chenghai, Deputy Director of the Training Branch of COSCO Shipping Talent Development Institute, and Captain Zhang Zhenxiao of COSCO Shipping Crew Management Co., Ltd., served as judges for this competition.