POWER system company Rolls-Royce expects its income in the marine sector to more than double through the 10 years to 2019 as it gains from the boom in China's marine industry in the coming years.

"The modernization of inner river trade of the Yangtze River is the most important opportunity in the 12th Five Year Plan (period)," said Ole Andreas Nustad, managing director of the firm's China marine sector.

China has set the target for inner river cargo throughput in 2020 to 3 billion tons from 1.7 billion tons last year and that has provided opportunity for shipping companies and technology providers.