Chinese yards: a booming orderbook and innovation boost

摘要

The orderbook for cruise ships and ferries being built in China has grown rapidly over the last few years - and this is only set to continue. The orderbook, as revealed by BRL Consultants, shows a wide range of ferries on it, with many of the contracts signed last year. The most recent ones, signed in 2019, include one for Samsø Linien and one for Aran Island Ferries. Seventeen ferries have also been contracted for Chinese domestic companies. TT-Line ordered one ropax ferry last year and one this year with Jinling shipyard. Jinling is also building a series of ferries for Finnlines and Grimaldi Group, all signed in 2018, as well as two ferries for DFDS, set to be delivered in 2020. Other notable contracts include the series of ropax ferries AVIC Weihai is building for Stena RoRo and Viking Line's LNG-fuelled ferry, being built at Xiamen Shipyard and due for delivery in 2020. As well as a booming orderbook, Chinese yards are evolving in terms of the complex technology used. 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.