Free trade ports are regarded as the world's most open form of economic zone. The building of Hainan free trade zone (port) has posed new and higher requirements for people’s courts in training teams competent in foreign-related trials. Haikou Maritime Court has made innovations based on its duties and has made productive attempts in building an international trial team.

I. Making overall plans for the training of a team with competence.

Oriented around judicial needs, the court has made an Implementation Plan for Improving Maritime Legal English Training. It has adopted innovative learning and training approaches, and worked closely with specialized training providers, marine administrative authorities and other maritime courts in the training in legal English. Using schedules and charts, it has taken well-measured steps to carry out the training, making sure that all plans are properly implemented.

II. Hosting legal English lectures to learn from others’ experience and work on our own weaknesses.

The court has hosted four maritime legal English lectures given by judges who are proficient in foreign languages and experienced in foreign-related trials. These judges are invited from the Higher People’s Court of Hainan Province, Shanghai Financial Court, Shanghai Maritime Court, and Xiamen Maritime Court. At the lectures, participants have shared their experience in learning and simulated the arrest of foreign vessels. They also have had in-depth discussions about how to improve the understanding and application of international treaties and practices, and how to cope with and resolve foreign-related disputes with international thinking. These have helped them become more and more professional in foreign-related trials.

III. Organizing on-board field training on foreign vessels for better use of legal English.

The court has worked with Hainan Maritime Safety Administration in establishing long-term cooperation in legal English field training. Staff of the court have accompanied the personnel of the Administration when the latter board foreign vessels. Taking advantage of these opportunities, the court staff talk with the foreign crew to learn about their needs for maritime justice while practicing legal English skills. In early June, a delegation of 20 some comprising staff of the court and personnel of the Higher People’s Court of the province boarded a foreign vessel for on-board shipping and English training. The activity achieved great results.

IV. Providing fulltime training for better effect.

The court has signed a cooperation agreement with Shanghai Maritime University on an advanced English training course in 2019. With the university’s educational strengths and resources, fulltime training will be provided for officers of the court centring on the Belt and Road Initiative, the building of the free trade zone (port) and an international maritime justice centre, as well as the understanding and application of international rules. This program will improve the court’s overall competence in foreign-related maritime trials.

V. Introducing talents to reinforce the court’s staff.

At the “Gather Talents from All over the World” Job Fair of Hainan Province in 2018, the court recruited a professional English translator. The talent has played a significant role in organizing activities for the foreign-related trial team, creating English websites, publishing judicial news of the court, and gathering and translating foreign maritime cases and the frontiers of international maritime justice. This has facilitated the court’s communication with the outside world in relation to maritime trials.

VI. Purchasing learning apps to facilitate study.

The court has purchased learning apps such as Liulishuo for the officers and helped them make personalized learning plans. Activities are organized regularly to share experience and progress in learning. This has created a positively competitive climate and motivated the whole court in learning legal English.