According to Xinhuanet, Anhui Province’s shipbuilding industry has achieved successive breakthroughs this year across three key areas: high-end shipbuilding, unmanned equipment, and green vessels.
From January to August, the industry generated a total output value of 21.3 billion yuan (approximately US$3.176 billion at current exchange rates), a year-on-year increase of 33%. Completed shipbuilding volume reached 1.33 million deadweight tons (DWT), up 18% year-on-year; new orders totaled 6.48 million DWT, an increase of approximately 302%; and the volume of orders on hand stood at 10.81 million DWT, up by about 140%.
A major breakthrough has been achieved in the high-end shipbuilding sector. Leveraging its robust technical expertise and strong market reputation, the Nantong base of Wuhu Shipyard secured orders for four 211,000 DWT bulk carriers and six 319,000 DWT Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), setting a new record for the total tonnage of orders won by a shipbuilding enterprise in Anhui Province. VLCCs are hailed as the “pearl in the crown” of the shipbuilding industry due to the immense complexity and high technical standards involved in their construction; securing this batch of VLCC orders demonstrates the shipbuilding capabilities of Anhui’s enterprises.
Meanwhile, the construction of the deep-sea research vessel for the Chinese Academy of Sciences, undertaken by Wuhu Shipyard, is progressing smoothly. Key milestones, such as the keel laying and the transfer of the hull to the building berth, have already been successfully achieved. With a designed gross tonnage of 4,900 tons and global navigation capabilities, the vessel represents the highest-standard and most technologically advanced marine research vessel ever built in Anhui Province; upon completion, it will provide a vital platform for China’s deep-sea scientific research.
The unmanned equipment industry is rapidly taking shape, emerging as a new engine for the transformation and upgrading of Anhui Province’s shipbuilding sector. Targeting market demand, Hefei Yunzhou Intelligent has launched a range of products—including unmanned vessels for lifesaving and water quality monitoring—and continuously upgraded its police patrol unmanned vessels; these products have been successfully listed in the Ministry of Public Security’s procurement catalog, demonstrating strong market competitiveness. Hefei Xinsichuang has focused on tackling core technical challenges, achieving key breakthroughs in the field of small, high-speed unmanned vessels and laying a technical foundation for their widespread application. Emergency response unmanned vessels developed by Anqing Zhongxing have successfully passed acceptance inspections and are poised for practical deployment. From water rescue and water quality monitoring to police patrols and emergency response, Anhui’s unmanned vessel industry is flourishing; application scenarios are constantly expanding, and the industrial chain is becoming increasingly robust.
The advantages of green vessels continue to become more apparent, lending a distinct ecological character to Anhui Province’s shipbuilding industry. Tri Water New Energy Technology has achieved the batch construction of 10,000-ton class methanol-powered bulk carriers, successfully filling the gap in the large-scale production of such vessels for China’s inland waterways and offering an “Anhui solution” for the green transformation of inland shipping. Tongling Port & Shipping Land-Sea Equipment has commenced construction on China’s first 13,000-ton class methanol-electric smart vessel and simultaneously put a 119.8-meter LNG multi-purpose vessel into production, effectively addressing the capacity shortfall for large LNG carriers in the Anhui section of the Yangtze River. The diverse exploration and demonstration of green propulsion technologies—including methanol, LNG, and electric-smart systems—demonstrate the commitment of Anhui’s shipbuilding enterprises to the “dual carbon” strategy and their leadership in driving green shipping.
Moving from “following the pack” to “keeping pace” and eventually “taking the lead” in select sectors, Anhui’s shipbuilding enterprises have remained committed to innovation-driven growth, steadily ascending the value chain. The successful delivery of high-end vessels—including ultra-large crude carriers, deep-sea research vessels, methanol-powered ships, and unmanned craft—has not only optimized the product mix but also bolstered the industry’s core competitiveness.
The global shipbuilding market is currently experiencing a new upcycle, with the industry’s development defined by a shift toward green, intelligent, and high-end technologies. Seizing this strategic opportunity, Anhui’s shipbuilding sector is accelerating its transformation into a powerhouse of the industry, guided by technological innovation and green development, and underpinned by intelligent manufacturing.