Technology breakthroughs have propelled the growth in China’sshipbuilding industry over the past decades.
Chineseshipyards topped the three major metrics used by the globalshipbuilding industry in 2021, with the highest number of completed orders, new orders and orders on hand.
As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of large-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, the country has witnessed rapid development ofshipbuilding technologies over the past 20 years.
Huang Huabin, an official of Hudong-ZhonghuaShipbuilding of the China StateShipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), said he has witnessed how the company has overcome technology bottlenecks and mastered the key technologies forshipconstruction.
“In the very beginning, we imported all the equipment for automatic welding. After years of research and development, we are now able to produce most of the automatic welding machines independently,” said Huang, director of theshipbuilding company’s containment systems division.
Mastering the capabilities for LNG carrier design and construction, China has already successfully built and delivered more than 30 LNG carriers.
Apart from LNG carriers, China has also already witnessed rapid development in building aircraft carriers and cruiseships.
The country launched its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, last Friday in Shanghai. Named after Fujian Province on China’s east coast, the carrier was independently designed and built by the country.
Shanghai WaigaoqiaoShipbuilding Company, another majorshipbuilder of China, is currently building the country’s first large cruiseship, the H1508. The 323-meter-long cruiseship, planned for delivery in September 2023, will accommodate about 5,200 passengers with 2,125 guest rooms.
Officials of theshipbuilding company said they have made technological breakthroughs for the construction of the newship.
“We have mastered theshipbuilding process and technologies such as the thin plate panel line. We have also grasped the three core technologies for safe return to port, vibration and noise and weight control. The level of technological difficulties is on par with those of the No. 003 aircraft carrier,” said Zhou Qi, Deputy General Manager of the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company.
