- Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (SWS) has reached its 600th vessel delivery, marking a major milestone in China’s shipbuilding progress.
- Over 26 years, SWS has expanded from bulk carriers and tankers to large cruise ships, container vessels, PCTCs, and offshore units.
- The 600th vessel, GRANDE TIANJIN, features advanced energy-saving systems, zero-emission shore power, and “Ammonia Ready” certification.
- Its maiden voyage will carry Leapmotor’s one-millionth electric vehicle to Europe, highlighting cooperation between China’s shipbuilding and NEV industries.
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (SWS), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited, has achieved a significant milestone with the naming and delivery of the GRANDE TIANJIN, a 9,000-car capacity Pure Car and Truck Carrier built for Italy’s Grimaldi Group. This marks the company’s 600th vessel or offshore platform delivery since its first in 2003. The achievement reflects SWS’s strong capabilities and its role in advancing China’s position in the global shipbuilding industry, according to a report published by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding.
Six Phases of Growth and Milestones
Over the past 26 years, Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (SWS) has progressed through six key development phases, delivering 600 vessels and contributing to China’s emergence as a global leader in shipbuilding.
In its early years, SWS broke new ground with China’s first domestically developed 175,000-ton Green Capesize bulk carrier and award-winning FPSOs, setting benchmarks in vessel construction. The Surge phase established the yard as a global hub for 180,000-ton Capesize bulk carriers, alongside its “SWS-Tanker” series gaining strong market share. The Expansion phase brought diversification, marked by the delivery of the sixth-generation deepwater semi-submersible drilling rig Hai Yang Shi You 981, a landmark in deepwater operations.
During Transformation, SWS entered the ultra-large container ship market and challenged global dominance in VLGC construction with large-scale batch deliveries. The Striving phase featured pioneering achievements, including the world’s first 400,000-ton intelligent ore carrier, China’s first 20,000 TEU container ship, and the launch of the country’s first large cruise ship project. In the Leapfrog phase, SWS led in LNG dual-fuel bulk carriers, wind-assisted tankers, and high-volume container ship deliveries, while successfully delivering China’s first domestically built large cruise ship, Adora Magic City, and surpassing 100 million DWT in cumulative output.
Expanding Capabilities and Green Innovation
SWS has evolved from producing bulk carriers and tankers to delivering a diverse portfolio that includes large cruise ships, container vessels, PCTCs, and offshore units, making it the only shipyard worldwide capable of building commercial vessels, offshore equipment, and large cruise ships simultaneously. Over 26 years and 600 deliveries, SWS has developed a digital-intelligent management model that has set new benchmarks for efficiency in Chinese shipbuilding, while strengthening the nation’s maritime supply chain.
Guided by CSSC and its “1-1-7-8” framework, SWS is pursuing innovation-led, value-driven growth, with a focus on cruise ship profitability, offshore strength, and green, intelligent transformation.
The newly delivered GRANDE TIANJIN, a 9,000-car capacity PCTC for Italy’s Grimaldi Group, is compatible with electric and conventional vehicles as well as heavy ro-ro cargo. It is equipped with a low-consumption main engine, multiple energy-saving devices, medium-voltage shore power for zero emissions at berth, and RINA’s “Ammonia Ready” certification for future zero-carbon fuel conversion. Built in a record 179 days, the vessel will depart on its maiden voyage on August 19, carrying Leapmotor’s one-millionth pure electric vehicle to Europe. This “Chinese Cars on Chinese Ships” initiative underscores the integration of China’s shipbuilding and new energy vehicle industries, promoting low-carbon shipping and advancing global green supply chain development.
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Source: SWS
