As the golden autumn season of September ushers in a time for fresh beginnings, a new cohort of graduates has arrived at COSCO Shipping Yangpu Port to embark on their on-the-job training. To strengthen the pipeline of new employees and solidify the foundation of frontline talent development, the port's owner, International Port Services, has rolled out its 2026 "mentor-apprentice" program, using the workplace as a classroom to pass on professional skills, working styles, and invaluable experience.
This training initiative prioritizes quality, progress, and practical results, avoiding rigid teaching structures and fixed shift assignments. New hires are encouraged to learn broadly, ask questions proactively, and gain experience from diverse operational areas. Mentors, each leveraging their specialized expertise, tailor growth paths for their apprentices across areas such as dispatch coordination, on-site management, production planning, and central control operations, providing hands-on guidance to accelerate their professional development.
01 Wen Baozhi & Meng Qianhan: Hands-on Training to Anchor Career Growth
As a frontline duty manager, Wen Baozhi brings extensive practical experience in port-area dispatch and operations control. Going beyond theoretical instruction, he provides direct, step-by-step coaching at the worksite. He leads his apprentice, Meng Qianhan, through various port operations, using real-time loading and unloading activities, yard layouts, and vehicle dispatch scenarios to demonstrate standard procedures and highlight potential safety risks. Recognizing his apprentice's initial lack of proficiency, Wen offers immediate corrections and breaks down complex tasks, encouraging him to actively observe and think critically in real-world situations. Through this immersive training, Meng has quickly become familiar with operational standards and is mastering essential skills and risk-prevention techniques, building a solid foundation for his career.
02 Lin Zhijin & Zhou Qianguang: Focused Planning to Strengthen Business Fundamentals
As the deputy director of central control, Lin Zhijin possesses deep expertise in production coordination, scheduling, and process management. Given the 24-hour nature of the role, he focuses his mentorship on night-shift training for his apprentice, Zhou Qianguang. Together under the lights, the pair closely tracks vessel movements, quay crane operations, and yard transfer data. Leveraging the challenges of nighttime operations—dense traffic, dynamic conditions, and higher dispatch complexity—Lin guides Zhou in verifying work logs, refining dispatch logic, and identifying anomalies, sharing essential coordination tactics and emergency response experience. Zhou has quickly adapted to the demands of central control, mastering the nuances between day and night shifts and developing the capability to independently analyze and coordinate operations.
03 Tang Shiyang & Wang Dianxiong: Systematic Coordination to Cultivate Central Control Expertise
Tang Shiyang is a seasoned expert in central control, known for his comprehensive skills and meticulous attention to detail. To address the challenges newcomers face with the department's complexity, he adopts a highly structured and systematic mentoring approach. He works alongside his apprentice, Wang Dianxiong, to break down daily workflows, data verification, and operational handovers, explaining standards and precautions in detail. Rather than focusing solely on practical tasks, Tang emphasizes building a systematic way of thinking, guiding Wang to categorize work, summarize methods, and jointly troubleshoot problems. This gradual, refined coaching has allowed Wang to quickly grasp the intricacies of central control and cultivate a professional mindset characterized by rigor and efficient coordination.
To continuously build a high-caliber youth workforce and drive the company’s high-quality development with fresh energy, International Port Services will persist in strengthening its mentor-apprentice program. By pairing seasoned professionals with young talent, the company ensures that craftsmanship and expertise are passed down through generations.