From shipyard superpower to supply chain symphony: How Shanghai island forges maritime marvels

Imagine a bustling island where leviathans of the sea are born, not just from steel and sweat but from a finely tuned orchestra of supporting industries. This is the reality of Changxing Island in east China's Shanghai, where robust shipbuilding thrives on a vibrant ecosystem nurtured by its resident giants: the renowned Jiangnan and Hudong-Zhonghua shipyards.

These shipyard titans aren't just building behemoths; they're conducting symphonies of supply chains. Renowned for its LNG carrier prowess, Hudong-Zhonghua doesn't hog the spotlight.

"We act as a bridge," Wang Jiaying, head of the shipyard's research institute under the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, told China Media Group (CMG). "We provide technical support and connect shipowners with suppliers, fostering a thriving domestic supply chain."

This collaborative spirit has fueled Hudong-Zhonghua's meteoric rise, doubling its delivery capacity in five years and nabbing orders for over 40 LNG carriers, one of which, delivered in a record-breaking 17.5 months, now holds the title of "world's fastest," according to Huang Huabing, secretary of the Party Committee of the Hudong-Zhonghua final assembly department.

Legacy reforged

Across the island, Jiangnan Shipyard, a 150-year titan of commercial and naval shipbuilding, has embarked on a daring odyssey.

In 2012, Jiangnan made a bold decision. "Competing on the traditional Panamanian bulk carriers wouldn't do," said Zhou Qinghua, head of development at Jiangnan's research institute. "We set our sights on gas carriers, where high value meets high difficulty."

This audacious move demanded eight years of relentless innovation, culminating in the awe-inspiring feat of conquering the technical Qomolangma: the type-B very large ethane carrier (VLEC).

With core technology unavailable, Jiangnan forged its own path, relying solely on its team's brilliance.

"Designing a single subsystem requires over 30 solutions and more than 100 models," Zhou explained. "Our VLEC has over 100 subsystems." Yet, their efforts bore fruit.

Since late 2019, Jiangnan has secured contracts for 36 VLECs, worth a staggering 35 billion yuan (nearly $5 billion). They now own 100 percent of the market share – a monopoly forged in innovation.

"It's simple," Zhou says. "Our product is the only one like this: a marvel of patented technology ensuring safe transport of ethane at minus 104 degrees Celsius."

Jiangnan's story is a testament to Chinese maritime might. In a year of global economic gloom, China's shipbuilding industry defied the odds, capturing over two-thirds of the world's new orders.

Cutting-edge digital tools

Beyond the clang of steel and the roar of engines, a silent revolution is brewing on Changxing Island. Here, amidst the titans of Chinese shipbuilding, cutting-edge digital tools are propelling China's maritime industry towards uncharted horizons.

Step into the future at Jiangnan Shipyard's digital workshop. Instead of grease-stained blueprints, engineers don 3D glasses, immersing themselves in the virtual hull of a tanker.

This digital twin – a pixel-perfect replica of the real vessel – allows them to waltz through every detail, testing performance, identifying snags and fine-tuning the design before a single rivet is hammered.

3D modeling can significantly reduce operational costs, ensure worker safety and increase efficiency in design.

"We used to refer to drawings, and deviations could easily occur. Now with a 3D model, we no longer rely on imagination," said Wang Jie, director of digital design at Jiangnan Shipyard. "We've cut scrap and rework costs by 80 percent when building a buoy tender."

But Jiangnan's digital playground extends far beyond a single workshop. A 5G intelligent manufacturing innovation lab, a welding and manufacturing lab and a low-temperature lab take full advantage of digital tools and smart equipment.

"China's shipbuilding needs a modern foxtrot – one fueled by smart tools, advanced models and efficient construction," Zhou told CMG. "This is how we'll lead the global trend."

Changxing Island isn't just building ships; it's building an ecosystem, forging a symphony of industry where titans conduct and suppliers harmonize, creating maritime marvels. This is the story of not just ships but of ambition, collaboration and an unwavering belief in China's nautical destiny.