Recently, the overall lifting of a 1,000-ton × 229-meter gantry crane — contracted by the Equipment Institute of CSSC Ninth Design & Research Institute (CSSC NDRI) for Jiangsu New Times Shipbuilding — was successfully completed, CSSC NDRI announced.
The lifting operation commenced on September 21. Employing dual-tower hydraulic synchronous lifting technology, the installation achieved the smooth hoisting of this colossal structure through precise force control and displacement monitoring, showcasing China’s leading technical capabilities in heavy equipment installation.
As the core equipment of Jiangsu New Times Shipbuilding’s newly constructed dry dock, this gantry crane stands as a true “giant of shipbuilding”. Featuring a single main girder design with a rail span of 229 meters and a lifting height exceeding 90 meters, it is equipped with a combined configuration of two 400-ton upper trolleys and a 500-ton lower trolley. This setup enables highly efficient operations for lifting sections of ultra-large vessels.
The successful completion of the overall lifting operation for this 1000-ton gantry crane not only established a critical foundation for subsequent equipment commissioning and delivery but also created replicable experience in the construction of large-scale lifting equipment.
Next, CSSC NDRI will fully advance the commissioning of the unit’s electrical systems and supporting equipment. Concurrently, CSSC NDRI will accelerate the final assembly process for another core piece of equipment—the 1600-ton × 229-meter gantry crane. Currently, the crane’s structural components have been completed, and it has entered the critical final assembly phase. Lifting operations are scheduled to commence in December this year, with all efforts focused on achieving the goal of commissioning both units simultaneously at the same site.
According to its official website, New Times Shipbuilding was established in 1971 as a large private enterprise integrating ship design and manufacturing. Possessing the natural conditions to construct various vessels up to 300,000 DWT, it currently operates one 500,000 ton dry dock, one 300,000 ton dry dock, and one 100,000 ton dry dock, along with three large outfitting piers. The facility is complemented by comprehensive supporting infrastructure including intelligent section manufacturing workshops and automated large-diameter pipe assembly and welding workshops.
In July 2024, New Times Shipbuilding announced a RMB 5 billion investment to expand its production capacity, including the construction of a new 700-meter dry dock. Upon completion, the shipyard will operate four dry docks.
As a leading private shipbuilder in China, New Times Shipbuilding specializes in constructing medium-to-large conventional and LNG dual-fuel bulk carriers, oil tankers, and container ships. For consecutive years, its key indicators—including shipbuilding output, new orders secured, and order backlog—have consistently ranked among the top three in China and the top ten globally for individual shipyards. Clarkson data shows that in 2024, New Times Shipbuilding topped the list with 106 new vessels ordered, totaling 4.63 million compensated gross tonnages (CGT).