China Merchants Cruise Research Institute (CMCI) was established by China Merchants Industry Holdings Co.,Ltd (CMI) in Shanghai Lingang Free Trade Zone in December, 2019. It is specialized in all aspects of cruise industry. CMCI is not only a strategic supporting platform for the development of cruise ship newbuilding, repairing and conversion business of CMI, but also a research and consultation platform for the development of whole cruise industrial chain of China Merchants group. CMCI together with China Merchants Cruise Shipbuilding Corporation (CMCS), China Merchants Cruise Industrial Park (CMCIP), Deltamarin Group and Youlian Dockyards, jointly build the “Ecosystem”  of cruise ships manufacturing for CMI.

CMCI is the only specialized institute in China which focuses on all aspects of cruise industry, including cruise economy, cruise ship design, supply chain and innovation technology. By integrating the technical force and resources inside CMI, CMCI has formed an industry-leading cruise ship R&D and design capability. CMCI consists of departments for cruise industry research, conceptual ship design, architecture design, interior design, passenger ship technology, etc. It is mainly engaged in services related to market consulting, strategic planning, technical standards/regulations reseach  of ocean/costal/river cruise ships and passenger ships, as well as cruise ship concept and architecture design, cruise ship conversion and refurbishment, passenger ship design and other design services, while focusing on decarbonization technologies development and application.

CMCI headquartered in Pudong New District atShanghai and has branches in Shenzhen, Nantong, Zhoushan, Weihai and Ravenna (Italy). CMCI has more than 150 employees including around 20 Italian designers . CMCI has gathered a group of professionals in the fields of cruise and passenger ship research, R&D and design. Since the establishment, CMCI has undertaken a number of national, provincial and ministerial scientific research projects, participated in the compilation of more than ten international, national and industry standards, and has undertaken consulting projects such as cruise economic development plan and industrial development reports for Shanghai, Dalian and other cities, and has built the competences to provide services through the entire process of cruise research and design for customers.

MCI is currently a national high-tech enterprise, the vice-chairman unit of the Cruise Yacht Branch of the China Transport Association, the governing unit of the Shanghai Shipbuilding Industry Association and the Shanghai Shipbuilding Engineering Society. CMCI and the XuBeihong Art Academy of Shanghai Maritime University jointly established an industry-university cooperative education base, established a cruise operation joint research center with China Merchants Cruises Co., Ltd., and co-edited the domestic professional cruise magazine "Cruise Logbook" with Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal. Since establishment, CMCI has held a series of professional activities such as "China Cruise Manufacturing High-quality Development Forum" and "China Cruise Salon" and became a  leading cruise research institute in China and an important force to promote the development of Chinese cruise industry.

Aiming at “Serve the cruise shipbuilding, Serve the China Merchants Group, Serve the industry development”, CMCI provides the industry with comprehensive solutions for the entire life cycle of research, development, design, manufacturing and maintenance of ocean/costal/river cruise ships and passenger ships, to focus on building the full-process service capability of cruise R&D and design, help CMI to build an industry-leading full-process service capability of cruise manufacturing, and make unremitting efforts to develop marine tourism resources and share a beautiful life at sea!