According to Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, the opening ceremony for the Wuhan Branch of Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. was grandly held at the Wuhan Shipbuilding Building on July 9. Chen Gang, Party Secretary and Chairman of Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding; Deputy General Managers Zhang Xuehui and Guo Yong; Director Xiong Yong; and heads of the Design and Research Institute and the Planning Department attended the ceremony. Leaders from the Xinzhou District Government of Wuhan, representatives from specialized maritime institutions—including Wuhan University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan University of Technology, and Wuhan Shipbuilding Vocational Technology College—as well as business representatives gathered at the venue to witness the occasion.
Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding stated that since the preparatory work for its Wuhan branch began in March 2026, the company has efficiently advanced preparations and successfully completed all establishment tasks—thereby meeting the preliminary conditions for operation—thanks to the collaborative support of the Xinzhou District Party Committee and Government, CCCC, various universities in Wuhan, and the company’s own departments.
At the opening ceremony, Chen Gang pointed out that industry competition has shifted from a contest of construction capabilities to one centered on technological innovation at the design stage; establishing the Wuhan design branch is a key strategic move for the company to secure a position in the upstream supply chain and capture the industry’s commanding heights.
Reportedly, the Wuhan Branch of Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding will leverage its location in the heart of Central China to focus on ship R&D and design as its core mission. By deepening collaborative innovation among industry, academia, and research, and refining its industrial layout, the branch aims to establish a pivotal hub for core ship design capabilities and a center for talent cultivation. It seeks to consistently deliver cost-effective design capacity, drive high-quality corporate development, and facilitate the transformation and upgrading of the shipbuilding industry in Hubei and Wuhan.
Public records indicate that the Wuhan Branch of Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. was established on April 10, 2026, and is registered at No. 6 (012) Xuelin North Road, Shuangliu Street, Xinzhou District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province; its legal representative is Zhao Dinggang. Its primary business activities include shipbuilding, design, and repair; the manufacturing, design, installation, modification, and repair of special equipment; the manufacturing, R&D, and sales of offshore engineering equipment; and offshore engineering design as well as module design and manufacturing.
With the establishment of the new company, Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding has become another major shipbuilding enterprise—following firms like Wuchang Shipbuilding—to set up operations in Wuhan. Prior to this, China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) already had seven research institutes established in Hubei.
As the “15th Five-Year Plan” period begins, Hubei has set development goals for its shipbuilding industry. According to the “Work Plan for Promoting the Transformation, Upgrading, and High-Quality Development of the Inland Waterway Shipbuilding Industry in Hubei Province”, the province aims for its shipbuilding industry’s output value to exceed 130 billion yuan by 2027. As of the end of 2025, Hubei had 29 shipbuilding enterprises above a designated size, with a shipbuilding capacity of 5.31 million deadweight tons—ranking first among inland provinces.
Hubei has set a clear goal to establish Wuhan as a “Capital of Ship and Marine Design,” focusing on high-value-added products such as high-end oil and chemical tankers, offshore engineering vessels, new-energy vehicle carriers, and luxury cruise ships. The province also aims to build a national demonstration base for new industrialization in the shipbuilding and marine engineering equipment sector in Wuhan, clustering leading enterprises through cultivation, attraction, and restructuring, while enhancing the localization of key supporting components.