New shipyard completed! Construction begins on the first batch of new-energy vessels in the Hanjiang River basin.

On December 16, the first phase of the intelligent and green shipbuilding base of Hubei Changze Shipbuilding & Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. was completed, and construction of the first batch of LNG-powered new-energy vessels in the Hanjiang River basin commenced simultaneously. At the event, Changze Shipbuilding & Heavy Industry also signed agreements with five companies, including Hubei Hanjiang Navigation and Hubei Hongxin Yiding Logistics, finalizing orders for the first batch of 20 new-energy vessels.

The three new energy vessels launched on the same day—including one 69-meter self-discharging vessel and two 88-meter, 3,000-ton dual-purpose vessels—are all powered by LNG as their sole fuel. These vessels feature green, intelligent, and standardized characteristics and are suitable for navigating inland waterways in Class B navigation areas. The commencement of construction of these three new vessels marks the entry of Hanjiang shipping into a new era of clean energy.

It is understood that Changze Shipbuilding & Heavy Industry was established in June 2023 with a registered capital of 30 million yuan. In December 2023, the Hubei Xiangyang Smart and Green Shipbuilding Industry Chain Project—invested in by Changze Shipbuilding & Heavy Industry at a cost of 1.3 billion yuan—officially broke ground. The project involves the relocation of the former Yicheng Shipyard to the Xiahe Port Coastal Industrial Park in Xiangyang, where it will be rebuilt and reconstructed with a focus on green practices, intelligent technologies, and high-end manufacturing.

Among these projects, the first phase—the most recently completed—covers an area of 120 mu and features a fully integrated production line that spans from CNC cutting and intelligent assembly to modular outfitting, smart painting, and standardized shipbuilding platforms No. 1 and No. 2. It is equipped with advanced machinery such as laser CNC cutting and CNC rib cold bending machines. The second-phase project has also been launched, with plans to add another 100 mu of land for the construction of a research and development center, testing lines, a training base, and production lines for cruise ships and yachts. In the future, the facility will have an annual capacity to build up to 200 thousand-ton class vessels, becoming the largest and most technologically advanced green and intelligent shipbuilding base in the Hanjiang River basin.

As the navigation hub of the Hanjiang River, Xiangyang in Hubei Province once boasted the state-owned Xiangfan Shipyard, the provincial navigation branch’s shipyard, and numerous shipyards located in various counties (cities and districts) along the river. However, due to changes in the shipping market and increasing environmental concerns, all these shipyards were closed by 2018. Changze Shipbuilding & Heavy Industry, situated at Xiaohe Port, is currently the only enterprise in the Xiangyang area holding Grade III Class I technical qualifications for the repair and construction of general steel vessels.

Changze Shipbuilding & Heavy Industry’s General Manager introduced Xu Yuantao, stating that the company is collaborating with Wuhan Shipbuilding Vocational and Technical College to develop new-energy, medium- and small-sized vessels as well as standardized vessel types for the Han River. As a result, the construction cycle per vessel has been shortened from six months to just 75 days. By adopting a new segmented construction process—similar to modular and intelligent shipbuilding used in automobile manufacturing—the company has more than doubled its efficiency.

Currently, Nagasawa Shipbuilding & Heavy Industry has 20 vessels on hand and plans to sign contracts for another 30 vessels. Its production schedule is already booked through 2026, reflecting a robust trend of strong sales and production.