The Rise of Smart Ships: Communication Cables Building the "Nervous System" of Future Shipping

Development Trends of Smart Ships and Market Opportunities for Marine Communication Cables

As the global shipping industry accelerates its transformation toward intelligence, digitalization, and decarbonization, smart ships have emerged as a core focus, driving rapid growth in demand for marine communication cables. Clarksons data shows that in 2023, the global newbuilding market saw 106.91 million deadweight tons (dwt) of new orders. Among these, Chinese shipbuilders completed 42.32 million dwt (up 11.8% YoY), received 71.20 million dwt of new orders (up 56.4% YoY), and held 139.39 million dwt of backlog orders (up 32.0% YoY), maintaining global leadership.

Against the backdrop of an upward cycle in the shipbuilding industry, where vessel intelligence and automation are advancing rapidly, marine communication data cables—as critical information transmission carriers—are seeing growing market demand. In this context, Zhaolong Interconnect successfully hosted the specialized technical exchange meeting on Connectivity Technologies and Standardization of Ship Communication Systems, themed "Connecting Rivers and Seas with Intelligence, Linking the Future with Cables", gathering representatives from Ship Professional Committee of Shanghai Standardization Association and member units to discuss the latest advancements in marine communication technologies.

Core Performance Requirements for Marine Communication Cables

As a foundational component of smart ship information systems, marine communication cables are widely used in navigation, information services, and monitoring systems. Different scenarios impose the following performance requirements:

• High-speed, high-bandwidth transmission: Supports high-rate, large-capacity, low-latency data transfer to meet real-time system transmission needs.

• Strong electromagnetic interference protection: Equipped with superior shielding structures and EMC compatibility to effectively prevent signal interference and interruption.

• Outstanding environmental adaptability: Withstands harsh marine environments, including high salt spray, humidity, UV radiation, oil resistance, and wide temperature ranges.

• Flame retardance and low-smoke halogen-free safety: Complies with international classification society standards for flame retardance, low smoke, and halogen-free (LSZH) properties to enhance ship fire safety.

Zhaolong Interconnect’s Core Competitive Advantages

• Technical Leadership

• Zhaolong is one of the few Chinese suppliers with marine CAT7A data cable certification. Our marine data cables were among the first in China to pass certifications from international classification societies such as CCS, ABS, and DNV, supporting multi-protocol transmission (Ethernet, Profibus DP, CANBus, etc.).

• Our in-house laboratories hold CNAS-accredited national laboratory certification, enabling key project testing capabilities.

• Products are widely applied in maritime projects, including the Moby Fantasy passenger ro-ro ship, container ships, and polar research vessels.

• Global Market Presence

• Leveraging its listed company resources, Zhaolong’s products comply with DNV, ABS, CCS, and other classification society standards, serving international shipbuilders, maritime equipment integrators, and ocean-going shipping enterprises.

From left to right, Zhaolong’s DNV, CCS, and ABS certification certificates

• Comprehensive Product Portfolio

• Products cover marine Ethernet cables, bus cables, and marine optical fibers, fully meeting cabling needs across different ship areas.

Partial Zhaolong marine cable solutions; Structure diagrams of LONGTRONIC® Marine Fiber Optic Cable

Zhaolong Marine Cable Solutions

Currently, Zhaolong's marine cable solutions include:

• LONGTRONIC® MARINE ETHERNET（CAT5e / CAT6 / CAT6A / CAT7 / CAT7A，including unarmored cables and armored cables）

• LONGTRONIC® MARINE BUS CABLE RS 485（including unarmored cables and armored cables）

• LONGTRONIC® MARINE BUS PROFIBUS DP（including unarmored cables and armored cables）

• LONGTRONIC® MARINE CAN BUS（including unarmored cables and armored cables）

• LONGTRONIC® MARINE COAXIAL CABLE（including unarmored cables and armored cables）

• LONGTRONIC® Marine Fiber Optic Cable

Core Value of Zhaolong’s Marine Cable Solutions

• Supports high-speed transmission of 100Mbps–10Gbps Ethernet, compatible with PoE power supply.

• Optical fiber products support single-mode/multi-mode transmission for large bandwidth and long-distance communication.

• Multiple shielding methods effectively prevent electromagnetic interference.

• Galvanized steel wire armoring provides high tensile, compressive, and impact resistance.

• Full series adopt SHF1/SHF2 low-smoke halogen-free sheathing, offering flame retardance, oil resistance, and compliance with international standards.

• Diverse wire diameters, structures, and models to meet varying space and system requirements.

• Certified by DNV, CCS, ABS, and other classification societies for high project adaptability.

Zhaolong Marine Cables Empower the Global Largest Passenger Ro-Ro Ship Moby Fantasy

As early as July 2022, Zhaolong’s marine cables supported the maiden voyage of the Moby Fantasy, the world’s largest passenger ro-ro ship built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation and Guangzhou Shipyard International. All trial navigation items passed at one time. Zhaolong provided ABS-certified 10G Category 6_A and Category 7 data cables for the Moby Fantasy, meeting all the requirements and ensuring stable operation across all ship areas.