Look no further than Zhoushan, China.
Zhoushan has solidified its position as a world-class ship repair and modification hub, accounting for over 20% of the global market share. Between January and July this year, the city repaired 2,663 ships, achieving an output value of 12.44 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 21.5%. This represents over 35% of China's total in ship repair.
In the first half of the year, Zhejiang province's completed shipbuilding volume grew by nearly 60%, ranking third nationally. Zhoushan contributed significantly, with its shipbuilding industry above designated size achieving an output value of 24.43 billion yuan, up 27.0% year-on-year, accounting for over 70% of the province's total.
Key figures from Zhoushan's shipbuilding sector include:
1.93 million deadweight tons of completed shipbuilding, a year-on-year increase of 84.2%.
5.95 million deadweight tons of new orders, up 54.7%.
12.02 million deadweight tons currently under construction, an increase of 67.4%.
The city is home to 42 major ship repair and construction enterprises, with four ranking among the world's top ten ship repair companies. The industry directly employs about 60,000 people and indirectly over 100,000. Zhoushan boasts a total dock capacity of approximately 6.8 million tons, complemented by modern facilities like large outfitting docks, processing workshops, and various heavy-duty cranes.
Notably, about 70% of Zhoushan's new ships are for export, and repairs of foreign vessels account for over 45% of China's total. In seven out of nine core global shipbuilding capacity indicators, Zhoushan surpasses its South Korean counterparts.
Zhoushan's strategic coastal location has fostered collaborations with international giants. For instance:
Zhongtian Heavy Industry partnered with South Korea's Doyu to produce advanced marine desulfurization units.
Xinya Shipbuilding teamed up with France's GTT to expand into high-value LNG ship repair and modification.
Furthermore, Zhoushan COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry has established strong relationships with industry leaders like Denmark's Maersk, France's CMA CGM, and Norway's Klaveness, delivering a range of vessels including FPSOs, FSOs, PSVs, container ships, shuttle tankers, crude oil tankers, product oil tankers, car carriers, and offshore living platforms.
Zhoushan's rapid ascent in the global maritime industry exemplifies the power of strategic investment, innovation, and international collaboration. It's a compelling case study of how a regional industry can achieve global leadership through focused development and partnerships.
by Xinde Marine News Chen Yang
The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Xinde Marine News.
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