China’s cruise liner breakthrough marks crowning glory, but ambition to climb high-value chain faces challenges
- China’s first home-grown large cruise liner undocked in Shanghai this week in a breakthrough for the nation’s shipbuilding and high-end manufacturing ambitions
- Beijing is also eager to narrow the tech gap with global rivals such as South Korea
Chinese boat builders moved closer to putting the last – and the most precious – pearl onto “the crown of shipbuilding” this week, while also accelerating a shift in high-quality development that will take the world’s second-largest economy to new waters.
Luxury cruise ships, together with liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels and aircraft carriers, have long been considered “the three pearls of the crown” as they represent the highest levels in vessels carrying passengers, cargo and military equipment.
Construction of a second luxury cruise ship, which is larger and heavier, is also under way in Shanghai.
We have beaten South Korea and Japan in terms of conventional ships, but still lag behind in high-value-added ones
Already a world leader in terms of ship orders received, China is now aiming for world-leading shipbuilding capabilities as its economy shifts from rapid growth to high-quality development, something that the authorities have said will be reliant on high-end manufacturing.
However, making cruise ships and developing an industry from scratch is no small undertaking for China.