A giant shipbuilding gantry crane has been added to the Yangzi Hongyuan shipbuilding project—a new base for the Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group. A 1,200-ton shipbuilding gantry crane, constructed by Nantong Rainbow Heavy Machineries, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jiangsu Rainbow Heavy Industries, was recently delivered.
To date, Rainbow Heavy Machineries has delivered three shipbuilding gantry cranes to the Yangzi Hongyuan shipbuilding base—with capacities of 1,800 tons, 1,200 tons, and 400 tons respectively; the 1,800-ton and 400-ton cranes were delivered in August 2026. With the successive delivery of core shipbuilding facilities, Yangzi Hongyuan has moved a step closer to commencing production by the end of 2026.
Data indicates that the 1,200-ton gantry crane at Yangzi Hongyuan Shipbuilding features a span of 178 meters. The 1,800-ton gantry crane also has a span of 178 meters and a lifting height of 90 meters; utilizing a single-girder design suitable for large-span shipyard operations, it is equipped with multiple independent trolleys that support various modes—such as single lifting, tandem lifting, and in-air hull block turning. With a tandem lifting capacity of 1,800 tons and a turning capacity of 1,000 tons, it meets the heavy-duty lifting requirements for large hull blocks, including those for clean-energy vessels.
Yangzi Hongyuan shipbuilding represents a pivotal element in the transformation and upgrading of Yangzijiang Shipbuilding. This shipbuilding base aims to establish a world-class demonstration zone for the high-quality development of clean-energy gas carriers; guided by concepts of intelligent and digital planning, it implements modern shipbuilding practices and constructs a state-of-the-art smart factory. Upon completion, the facility will serve as the primary production hub for Yangzijiang Shipbuilding’s orderbook of green, clean-energy vessels.
The project entails an estimated investment of 3 billion yuan over two years, featuring a shoreline of approximately 1,320 meters and a land area of about 1,300 mu. It will include the construction of a 300,000-ton class shipbuilding dock, a 200,000-ton class outfitting wharf, and a 100,000-ton class harbor basin. With an annual production capacity of approximately 800,000 deadweight tons, the project is scheduled to enter full operation by the end of 2026.
Currently, Yangzi Hongyuan’s first batch of new ship orders has been scheduled for production, and the supporting facilities on the shipyard grounds—including the machining shop, block shop, and outfitting shop—became fully operational in April 2026. The first newly built vessel is expected to be delivered in 2027.
In its “Financial Results Report for the First Half of 2026,” Yangzijiang Shipbuilding stated that the gradual commencement of operations at Yangzi Hongyuan was the primary factor driving the shipbuilder’s revenue growth in the first half of the year. In the second quarter of 2026, Yangzi Hongyuan reported operating revenue of 545 million yuan.