Cruise ship and ferry shipbuilding in China is fast gaining momentum – and this is set to continue with the yards’ growing use of increasingly advanced technology
A recent orderbook, from BRL Consultants, March 2019, shows 56 ferries being built in China, including nine for Grimaldi Group.
The Grimaldi ferries highlight the growing sophistication of ferries in China, as they will all be fitted LeClanche energy storage solutions. Three ferries with 5.1-MWh battery packs will be delivered in 2020 with the remaining six ferries delivered in 2020 and 2021.
Other examples show how Chinese yards are increasingly using complex technology. Rederi AB Gotland’s Visborg was delivered this year. It is the first LNG-powered ropax built in a Chinese yard and is the largest LNG-powered ferry in domestic service. It scooped the Shippax technology and design award 2019.
It is an evolution of earlier vessels built in the same yard for the operator but is far more complex with new features including safe return to port. Furthermore, the ship reached 31 knots in trials, a top speed ranking for an LNG-powered conventional ropax vessel.
It uses 7% less propulsion power than other vessels in the fleet but its gross tonnage increased by almost 9%. It was built by GSI shipyard and designed by OSK ShipTech, with Steen Friis Design, part of OSK Group, carrying out the interior design.
“Being the most powerful of its kind, Visborg marks a new era for the Scandinavian-Asian collaboration between us as designers, owners Rederi AB Gotland, and builders GSI,” says OSK Group chief technical officer Kristian Lind. “I am immensely proud of the technical design team who has ensured a significant reduction in fuel consumption as well as CO2, NOx and SOx emissions.”
European operators choose China
Elsewhere, DFDS will introduce the largest ferry it has ever operated on the English Channel, Côte D’Opale, at 3,100 lane m. The ferry, being built in China for Stena Line and chartered by DFDS, will be able to carry 1,000 passengers. According to Discover Ferries, it will also be highly efficient and environmentally friendly with an expected reduction in oil consumption of around 30%. The ferry will be equipped with a shopping mall, innovative digital experience and reconfigured premium lounge.
The ferry operator also announced it has ordered two passenger ferries for its Dover-Calais service, which will be built in China. According to Discover Ferries, the double-ender vessels, designed to give economic and environmental efficiencies, will be the largest and most sustainable ships to sail on the Channel and represent an investment of €260M (US$287M). These are expected to join P&O’s fleet on the English Channel in 2023 and will have capacity for 1,500 passengers.
The first two vessels from Stena Line’s fleet investment programme are set to enter service next year with Stena Estrid due to start operating on its Dublin to Holyhead route in early 2020 and Stena Edda scheduled to sail on its Belfast to Liverpool route later in 2020. A third new ship, which will also operate on the Belfast route, is set to join the fleet in 2021.
Discover Ferries adds “These E-Flexer vessels will be bigger than today’s standard ropax vessels at 215 m long with a freight capacity of 3,100 lane m and the space to carry 120 cars and 1,000 passengers. They will also be among the most energy-efficient ferries in the world with significantly lower CO2 emissions per freight unit against comparable ropax tonnage.”
In addition, Stena Line has ordered two E-Flexer ropax vessels with a larger design, to be deployed within Stena Line’s network in 2022. These larger ships will be 240 m long with a total freight capacity of 3,600 lane m and passenger capacity of 1,200.
Yet another example of advanced technology being used in Chinese yards is Viking Line’s LNG-fuelled newbuild, which is being built by Xiamen Shipbuilding. The shipyard has contracted Deltamarin engineering and construction support services.
Deltamarin’s sales manager Nina Savijoki commented “From a naval architectural point of view, they presented us with every concept developer’s dream challenge: to come up with a concept that is even more energy-efficient in relation to cargo capacity than Viking Grace, one of the most energy-efficient and sophisticated ferries on the market.”
And Deltamarin rose to the challenge: the newbuild will be 10% bigger than Viking Grace – carrying 300 tonnes more of cargo – and have several megawatts more of power, yet still be 10% more fuel efficient on the same route as Viking Grace.
A team led by Tomas Tillberg Design managing partner Carlos H Reyes is responsible for the co-ordination between the shipyard, the outfitters and the architects when it comes to the interiors. Mr Reyes said “Our firm has been hired by the shipyard as part of the shipyard’s team, led by project manager Mr Zeng. What is important is that all the pieces fit together in the puzzle in the best possible way and by working with the shipyard, outfitters and architect, we achieve the product Viking Line is expecting.
“The shipyard is capable enough of building a large ferry of this kind and a great team has been put together, consisting of very experienced companies, including Finland-based Deltamarin who is providing engineering and shipbuilding support services.”
Impact of SunStone’s cruise ship
While the number of ferries being built in China is currently some distance ahead of the cruise ship orders, this could be set to change with the delivery of SunStone Ships’ cruise ship Greg Mortimer – the first cruise ship to be delivered from China. It is the first of seven being built for SunStone Ships by China Merchants Heavy Industry and there are three additional options.
“We are very pleased with it,” says SunStone Ships chief executive Niels-Erik Lund of the shipowner’s decision to build the ship in China. And there are certainly strong financial benefits attached to building the ship in China. “You can get a longer financing period than in Europe, where laws say the maximum time (to repay the loan) is 12 years. In China there are no laws like that so the company can negotiate for a longer period,” says Mr Lund.
SunStone Ships tried to contract a European yard to build its new expedition ships but found all the major yards were fully booked.
Mr Lund comments “We were dealing with European yards for a long time and trying to build in Europe, but all the cruise shipyards were fully booked. So, we could either go to a European shipyard that had never built a cruise ship before or to China. Many of these smaller European shipyards have now started building cruise ships. But we have seen that these smaller shipyards have limited resources, and some have been late in delivering cruise ships. We therefore decided to go to China where the shipyards are large with thousands and thousands of employees. If delays happen, they can simply allocate more people to the project.
“Our position was that it was more beneficial to have a very large shipyard that did not have the experience, but which had the resources, rather than a European yard where they do not have the experience either but also don’t have the resources. If they are late, they are late, there is nothing they can do about it. Lots of people warned us that we would be late if building in China, but this ship is on time.”
A crucial part of the building process was that all equipment and the design process came from Europe. Furthermore, the suppliers had to have worked with the cruise industry for 15 years to have been chosen by SunStone Ships. Norway’s Ulstein Group was selected for the technical design, and the company was also responsible for sourcing all equipment.
Mr Lund says “What we say is we built a European ship assembled in China. It is European designed, European managed and uses European equipment.”
Finland’s Makinen contracted the interiors and Tomas Tillberg was chosen for the interior design.
Mr Lund says he expects the Chinese yard to take on more of the shipbuilding project management in the next few years. But as it has not built passenger ships before, Mr Lund says SunStone Ships has 22 people at the shipyard supervising the process. This number will be boosted to 40 now the yard is building more Infinity-class vessels.
Mr Lund says the main challenge of building ships in China is communication, due to the lack of English spoken. “That’s our main challenge but we knew before we started it was a challenge and in our team of 22 people, we have Chinese speakers that understand technical language.”
Carnival’s China milestone
Other cruise ships on the orderbook for China include two for Carnival Cruise Line, one for a Chinese company and another for Japan.
The two ships for Carnival Corp’s new cruise line, like SunStone, should also pave the way for cruise vessel construction in China. Last year the contract for the two ships was signed – marking a milestone as they will be the first units of this kind ever made in China for the Chinese market.
The newbuilds, valued at about US$1.5Bn, not counting the options for an additional four vessels, will be built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co (SWS), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).
The joint venture, set up by Fincantieri and CSSC Cruise Technology Development Co, will grant a technology licence of the ship model platform and provide a series of technical services to SWS, including project management, supply chain management and sales of systems and components for the ship.
The design will be tailored to the specific tastes of Chinese travellers and for CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Limited, the new Chinese cruise brand of the joint venture between Carnival Corporation and CSSC, which will also operate the units. The first delivery is expected in 2023.
Year | Type | Operator | Operator country | Shipyard | Delivery date |
2019 | Ropax | Samso-Linien | Europe | Afai Southern | 2019 |
2019 | Ropax | Aran Island Ferries Ltd | Europe | Hin Lee | 2020 |
2019 | Ropax | COSCO Shipping Ferry | Far East | GSI Nansha | 2021 |
2019 | Ropax | COSCO Shipping Ferry | Far East | GSI Nansha | 2021 |
2019 | Fast ferry | Fujian Strait Ferry | Far East | Afai Southern | 2021 |
2019 | Ropax | Changdao Xianglong | Far East | Penglai Zhongbai Jinglu | 2020 |
2018 | Ropax | Weihai Haida | Far East | Huanghai | 2020 |
2018 | Ferry | CG Railway | North America | Huangpu Wenchong | 2020 |
2018 | Ropax | Bohai Ferry Co. | Far East | Yantai Raffles | 2020 |
2018 | Ropax | Bohai Ferry Co. | Far East | Yantai Raffles | 2020 |
2019 | Ropax | TT-Line | Europe | Jinling | 2023 |
2018 | Ropax | TT-Line | Europe | Jinling | 2022 |
2018 | Roro freight | Desail | Far East | Bohai | 2020 |
2018 | Ropax | Stena RoRo | Europe | Avic Weihai | 2022 |
2018 | Roro freight | DFDS A/S | Europe | Jinling | 2020 |
2016 | Ropax | Stena RoRo | Europe | Avic Weihai | 2022 |
2016 | Ropax | Stena RoRo | Europe | Avic Weihai | 2021 |
2018 | Ropax | Shidao Int. Ferry Co. | Far East | Huanghai | 2019 |
2018 | Roro freight | DFDS A/S | Europe | Jinling | 2020 |
2018 | Roro freight | Grimaldi Group | Europe | Xiamen Shipbuilding | 2021 |
2018 | Roro freight | Grimaldi Group | Europe | Xiamen Shipbuilding | 2021 |
2018 | Roro freight | Grimaldi Group | Europe | Xiamen Shipbuilding | 2021 |
2018 | Roro freight | Grimaldi Group | Europe | Xiamen Shipbuilding | 2020 |
2018 | Roro freight | Grimaldi Group | Europe | Xiamen Shipbuilding | 2020 |
2018 | Roro freight | Grimaldi Group | Europe | Xiamen Shipbuilding | 2020 |
2018 | Roro freight | Finnlines | Europe | Jinling | 2021 |
2018 | Roro freight | Finnlines | Europe | Jinling | 2021 |
2018 | Roro freight | Finnlines | Europe | Jinling | 2021 |
2018 | Roro freight | Grimaldi Group | Europe | Jinling | 2020 |
2018 | Roro freight | Grimaldi Group | Europe | Jinling | 2022 |
2018 | Roro freight | Grimaldi Group | Europe | Jinling | 2020 |
2016 | Ropax | Stena RoRo | Europe | Avic Weihai | 2020 |
2018 | Ropax | Guangdong Shuangtai Group | Far East | Taizhou Kouan Shipbuilding | 2020 |
2018 | Ropax | Guangdong Shuangtai Group | Far East | Taizhou Kouan Shipbuilding | 2019 |
2018 | Ropax | Nisa Navegacion SA | South America | Guangdong Bonny Fair | 2019 |
2018 | Ropax | DFDS A/S | Europe | Guangzhou Shipyard | 2021 |
2018 | Ropax | DFDS A/S | Europe | Guangzhou Shipyard | 2021 |
2018 | Ropax | Han Joong Ferry Lines | Far East | Tianjin Xingang | 2019 |
2018 | Ropax | Bohai Ferry Co. | Far East | Shandong Huanghai | 2019 |
2017 | Ropax | Grandi Navi Veloci | Europe | Guangzhou Shipyard | 2020 |
2017 | Ropax | Moby Lines | Europe | Guangzhou Shipyard | 2020 |
2017 | Ropax | Grandi Navi Veloci | Undisclosed | Guangzhou Shipyard | 2019 |
2017 | Ropax | Moby Lines | Europe | Guangzhou Shipyard | 2019 |
2017 | Roro freight | DFDS A/S | Europe | Jinling | 2019 |
2017 | Roro freight | DFDS A/S | Europe | Jinling | 2019 |
2017 | Ropax | ENTMV | Africa | Guangzhou Shipyard | 2019 |
2017 | Ropax | Fuzhou Arrow | Far East | Fujian Funing | 2019 |
2017 | Ropax | Fuzhou Arrow | Far East | Fujian Funing | 2019 |
2016 | Ropax | Viking Line | Europe | Xiamen Shipbuilding Ind. | 2020 |
2016 | Ropax | Indonesian Owner | Asia | Fujian Southeast | 2019 |
2016 | Ropax | Indonesian Owner | Asia | Fujian Southeast | 2019 |
2016 | Roro freight | DFDS A/S | Europe | Jinling | 2019 |
2016 | Ropax | Stena RoRo | Europe | Avic Weihai | 2020 |
2016 | Ropax | Stena RoRo | Europe | Avic Weihai | 2020 |
2016 | Ropax | Stena RoRo | Europe | Avic Weihai | 2020 |
2016 | Ropax | Stena RoRo | Europe | Avic Weihai | 2019 |
2016 | Roro freight | Visentini Giovanni Trasporti | Europe | Avic Weihai | 2019 |
2015 | Ropax | Huajia International Shpg. | Far East | Shandong Huanghai | 2019 |
2015 | Ropax | Gotland AB | Europe | Guangzhou Shipyard | 2019 |
2019 | Cruise Inland | Zhuhai Huanzhuao Sea Tourism | Far East | Jianglong | 2019 |
2017 | Cruise | Tsuneishi Holdings | Far East | Tsuneishi (Zhoushan) | 2020 |
2017 | Cruise | SunStone Ships | North America | China Merchants Industry Holdings | 2022 |
2017 | Cruise | SunStone Ships | North America | China Merchants Industry Holdings | 2021 |
2017 | Cruise | SunStone Ships | North America | China Merchants Industry Holdings | 2020 |
2017 | Cruise | SunStone Ships | North America | China Merchants Industry Holdings | 2019 |
2016 | Cruise | Beibu Gulf Tourism | Far East | Huarun Dadong Dockyard | 2019 |
2016 | Cruise | Carnival Cruise Line | North America | Shanghai Waigaoqiao | 2024 |
2015 | Cruise | Carnival Cruise Line | North America | Shanghai Waigaoqiao | 2023 |
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