China’s first ad hoc arbitration since the enactment of the new Arbitration Law was concluded in the Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (“Lin-gang Special Area”), with CMAC Shanghai Headquarters acting as the appointing authority.

The claimant is a shipping company registered in the Lin-gang Special Area, and the respondent is a shipping company registered in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone. The parties were in dispute over freight arising from the performance of a contract for the carriage of goods by sea and chose to resolve their dispute via ad hoc arbitration.

On December 16, 2025, the parties agreed to designate the CMAC Shanghai Headquarters as the appointing authority for this arbitration case and jointly appointed a sole arbitrator. As the appointing authority, the CMAC Shanghai Headquarters provided supporting services, including coordinating the oral hearing venue, arranging stenography service for the oral hearing and offering case file management. On December 19, 2025, the case was heard in Shanghai. With the consent of both parties, the arbitral tribunal conducted mediation, and the parties reached a settlement agreement during the hearing. The arbitral tribunal later issued an ad hoc arbitration award. On the same day, the respondent fulfilled its payment obligations to the claimant under the award. The dispute was successfully resolved.

CMAC has long taken the lead in the innovation and exploration of ad hoc arbitration rules and practices. In March 2022, CMAC, in collaboration with the China Maritime Law Association (CMLA), respectively issued the CMLA Ad Hoc Arbitration Rules and the CMAC Rules as Appointing Authority in Ad Hoc Arbitration. These rules filled a regulatory gap and pioneered ad hoc arbitration services, greatly contributing to the development of ad hoc arbitration in mainland China. In June 2023, the first ad hoc arbitration with CMAC acting as the appointing authority was successfully concluded, providing valuable practical experience for future practice.

Since September 2023, CMAC has successively issued ad hoc arbitration guidelines in 7 pilot free trade zones, including Fujian, Zhejiang, Shandong, Liaoning, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Yunnan. These efforts actively promote the improvement of the ad hoc arbitration services. The successful conclusion of this landmark case—the first ad hoc arbitration after the promulgation of the new Arbitration Law—marks another significant step by CMAC to collaborate with industry stakeholders, advance innovation in the arbitration system, and expand the scope of arbitration services. It holds great significance for promoting the practice and development of ad hoc arbitration in China.