Nation's shipbuilders chart exciting waters(2)

Significant results

Xing Wenhua, chairman of the Shanghai Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, said, "The Chinese shipbuilding industry maintained its strong development momentum by outperforming in the three major shipbuilding indicators — contracting, orders, and deliveries — seeing growth across the board and a leading market share."

In recent years, the industry has achieved significant results in its accelerated structural adjustment, transformation and upgrading, Xing said.

The nation's new shipbuilding breakthroughs cover large cruise ships, vessels powered by LNG, methanol and ammonia, high-end marine engineering equipment, ultra-large container ships, pure car and truck carriers, high-end marine fishery equipment, and marine research vessels, Xing added.

Lin Guolong, director of Shanghai Maritime University's Logistics Research Center, said, "These achievements in high-end ships have been made not only in terms of technologies and craftsmanship, but also in winning market recognition." Lin was referring to major Chinese shipbuilders' accomplishments regarding vessels universally recognized as the most difficult to build due to the advanced techniques that are required.

Since delivering Dapeng Sun, the nation's first home-built LNG carrier in April 2008, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co, a CSSC subsidiary, has developed five generations of LNG carriers.

Securing 37 new orders in 2022, the company, which is based in Shanghai, said at the start of last year that it aimed to double its LNG vessel construction capacity and accelerate research and development throughout the year.

In September, it announced that its self-designed-and-developed LNG carrier, which occupies 271,000 cubic meters and is the world's largest, had received approval in principle certificates from four major classification bodies.

Construction of the vessel showed that Chinese shipbuilders' research and development, design, and manufacturing capabilities were entering a new phase, the company said.

Last year, Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co, also a unit of CSSC, completed work on upgrading and technique innovation, as well as accelerating management and production processes.

The company, headquartered in Shanghai, met its manufacturing target for the year more than one month ahead of schedule.

Among the medium- to high-end vessels it delivered, the company's dual fuel VLGC, or very large gas carrier, which can transport up to 93,000 cu m of liquefied gas, is the world's largest of its kind with a competitive edge. The vessel has met the latest emissions regulations and requirements.

Hu Keyi, the company's corporate technology chief, said the delivery of VLGCs has further consolidated its leading position in global VLGC research, development and construction.

"In the past, domestic shipbuilders always seemed to accept the superiority of foreign engineering, manufacturing and managerial prowess, but Jiangnan refused to do so," Hu said.

Lin said, "The benefits of cost efficiency, a complete industrial and supply chain, and constant breakthroughs in key techniques and technologies have seen China come very close to becoming a shipbuilding power."

Data from Clarksons show that in the first 10 months of last year, 1,547 new ship orders amounting to 89.12 million deadweight tonnes were placed globally, with nearly 58 percent of them going to Chinese shipyards.

A total of 4,359 ships comprising 122.58 million CGT are currently on global order books, with Chinese shipyards securing orders for 2,539 vessels comprising 59.34 million CGT.

Lin said China is still at the initial stage of becoming a recognized worldwide shipbuilding power.

To weather the challenges ahead, the nation's shipyards need to be more competitive in their research and development, designs and techniques. They should also pay special attention to nurturing talent, enhancing management and efficiency, and adapting flexibly to market needs in terms of design, production and technique, Lin said.