China’s first home-grown cruise ship almost 90 per cent finished, and its cables could nearly span the nation’s width
- Nation’s first foray into the advanced manufacturing process of large cruise ships looks to be a milestone in China’s self-sufficiency drive
- Often called floating cities, cruise ships span multiple soccer pitches and are among the most difficult and intricate ships to make
China is aiming to deliver its first large cruise ship this year as the country continues to take critical steps towards boosting its self-reliance on advanced manufacturing.
The H1508 vessel, China’s first home-grown cruise ship, has been in the works since October 2019 and is expected to be afloat by May, according to state media reports.
Sea trials will start in July, and the ship will be named and delivered by the end of the year, according to its maker, Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, which held a news briefing on Friday, according to state media reports.
Construction on the cruise ship was 87 per cent complete, officials were quoted as saying.
Liu Jianbin had a chance to board the vessel last year. The CEO of Shangchuanba, a premium cruise service agency based in China, told the Post that the maiden voyage of the H1508 will herald a new era of Chinese cruise ships.
“The manufacturing of cruise ships is seen as the most dazzling pearl in the crown that is the ship-making industry,” Liu said.