The newspaper also said the two companies would form a joint venture in the future.
Chronic transportation bottlenecks have constrained the flow of coal from China's resource-rich north to the south, partly contributing to a serious power shortage.
China Shipping, one of China's largest shipping groups, is the parent of China Shipping Development Co and China Shipping Container Lines Co.
China Coal Energy Co is the listed arm of China National Coal Group Corp, the country's No. 2 coal producer.