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Shanghai shipyard clears the docks ahead of expected carrier launch
- The Jiangnan yard, which resumed work in the middle of the city’s Covid lockdown, said that it had launched or floated five vessels this week
- The Type 003 warship is expected to be launched on Friday’s Dragon Boat Festival
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The Shanghai shipyard that is putting the finishing touches to China’s new aircraft carrier announced on Wednesday that it had launched three ships this week.
The announcement on the Jiangnan shipyard’s WeChat account – which coincided with the end of the city’s prolonged lockdown – said that on Monday it had launched a large container and two ethane carriers as well as floating two gas carrier platforms ready for the next phase of construction.
The WeChat report followed a notice issued by the Maritime Safety Administration on last Friday, saying the No 3 and No 4 docks of the shipyard would be cleared for an operation involving five large vessels.
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China’s third aircraft carrier, the Type 003 is reported to be under construction in the yard.
A source familiar with China’s aircraft carrier projects said the operation appeared designed to prepare the way for the launch of the carrier, which is expected to be held on Friday, the same day as the Dragon Boat Festival.
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“Once the Type 003 is launched and goes for sea trials, one more huge dry dock will be released, allowing Jiangnan shipyard to have more space and manpower to build giant commercial vessels,” said the source, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
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