On October 10, Damen Yichang Shipyard, a Sino-Dutch joint venture shipbuilding enterprise, successfully launched its newly constructed 3,800 DWT multi-purpose cargo vessel at the Yichang Industrial Investment (Yidu) Green Intelligent Shipbuilding Industrial Park. This milestone marks the official commencement of operations at Damen Yichang Shipyard’s new facility.
The Yidu Green Intelligent Shipbuilding Industrial Park, with a total investment of 5 billion yuan and a planned area of 1,588 mu (approximately 105.87 hectares), will host the relocation of Yichang Damen Shipbuilding. The park will attract green and intelligent shipbuilding and related industry chain companies, aiming to build a comprehensive green and intelligent shipbuilding production base in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Upon full completion and production, the project is expected to generate an annual output value of 10 billion yuan and 500 million yuan in tax revenue.
It is reported that the overall relocation of Damen Yichang Shipyard began three years ago. In January 2022, the People’s Government of Xiling District, Yichang City officially issued a document requiring the shipyard to stop production and start the relocation plan before December 31, 2023, and complete the relocation work before December 2025.
In April 2023, the People’s Government of Yichang City decided that Yichang Damen Shipyard must complete its overall relocation and stop production at the original site. Through technological iteration and transformation and upgrading, it will continue to contribute to the development of Yichang’s shipbuilding and export earnings.
As of December 31, 2024, all projects of Yichang Damen Shipyard originally located on Xiba Island, Xiling District, Yichang City have been shut down and are awaiting relocation.
In June 2025, Damen Yichang Shipyard moved into the Yidu Green Intelligent Shipbuilding Industrial Park. With a total investment of 2.32 billion yuan (approximately US$325 million), the new facility covers an area of 585 mu (about 39 hectares) and is equipped with intelligent production equipment and China’s first integrated ship launching system featuring a reverse-pull slipway.
After the relocation, Damen Yichang Shipyard’s ship building and repair tonnage will be upgraded to 15,000 tons, with an annual construction capacity of 24 CF3850-class ships, 20 CF5000-class ships and 12 CF13500-class ships. The new base will adopt an “enhanced” design platform, and after optimized design, the fuel efficiency of newly built ships is expected to increase by 30%. The Damen Triton remote monitoring system will be installed to provide real-time fuel usage and carbon emissions data.
A representative from Damen Yichang Shipyard revealed that the shipyard’s current order backlog extends through 2027. Production in 2026 is projected to increase by over 25% compared to previous peak output levels, with annual output value expected to exceed 1 billion yuan.
It is understood that Damen Yichang Shipyard is a Sino-Dutch joint-venture shipbuilding enterprise co-founded by China (Changhang Group Yichang Shipyard) and the Netherlands (Damen Shipyards Group). Established in August 1998, the company has a 50/50 ownership structure between the two shareholders. It mainly undertakes foreign shipbuilding orders, with its main ship types including river-sea through cargo ships, inland bulk carriers, LNG combined distribution ships and general combined distribution ships. It also builds new energy ship types such as lithium-ion powered cruise ships (official boats) and lithium-ion powered unmanned boats.