Shanghai aims to have world’s largest shipyard
China's largest
shipbuilding company,
China State
Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC), has begun
construction on a new shipyard north of Shanghai. The company claims that the shipyard, located on Changxing island in the Yangtze river, will be the world's largest once it is completed in 2015. During the first phase of the project, CSSC subsidiary Jiangnan Shipyard will expand its
shipbuilding capacity from the current 800'000 dwt a year to 4.5 million dwt by 2010. The yard's first ship is expected to be delivered by 2009. The second phase calls for CSSC's other subsidiaries, such as Hudong and Waigaoqiao, to add more yards along Changxing island's eight-kilometer coastline. By 2015, CSCC is expected to have an annual capacity of 8 million dwt, half of
China's current
production capacity. The 8 million dwt capacity would make Changxing the world's largest shipyard by today's standards. The yard will increase Chinese
production of high-tech and high-value-added ships, including liquefied natural gas carriers and oil supertankers. Apart from new ship
construction, Jiangnan Shipyard has specific divisions specializing in
manufacturing pressurized tanks for LNG carriers; large steel structures for civil engineering; a variety of mechanical and electrical equipment; non-standard equipment; pressure containers; and port machinery.