China’s Shipbuilding Industry plays key part in Maritime Silk Road

Shipbuilding and repairing for a connected world

Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry Company Limited (XSI) has chosen the path of ensuring the success of the Maritime Silk Road (MSR) with an innovative approach. The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, together with the Silk Road Economic Belt, has emerged as a signature foreign policy initiative and is the first global strategy for enhancing trade and ‘fostering peace’ proposed by the Chinese leadership under President Xi Jinping. 

XSI has realized that in advancing the Belt and Road Initiative, China will fully leverage the comparative advantages of its various regions, adopt a proactive strategy of further opening-up, strengthen interaction and cooperation among the eastern, western and central regions, and comprehensively improve the openness of the Chinese economy.

“We strongly believe that the competition of the future is the competition of a new improved brand,” says Zhang Tao, Deputy General Manager Senior Engineering. He said the state-owned company is producing an average of four ships per year as part of its own effort in connecting countries and regions under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Located in Paitou Area, Haicang Taiwanese Development Zone, Haicang District, Xiamen City, XSI covers an area of over 500, 000 square meters, and has a deep-water coast with the length of 1.5 kilometer. The registered capital is RMB 250 million with an annual output reaching 1.2 million Deadweight tonnage (DWT), and the annual production value amounting to be about RMB 5 billion. The company has nearly 2, 000 proficient staff members, of which more than 250 employees with medium and high level professional titles.

Company authorities addressing journalists

At present, XSI has one 35, 000 tons slipway (compatible 70, 000 tons) and two 80, 000 tons slipway, having one 270m and one 289m and one 196m wharf separately, and front water depth of wharf is 14m. At the same time, it has more than 10 large outside crane, including two 300 tons and one 200 tons and one 800 tones crane, and many modern shipbuilding equipment.

In 2015, XSI began to deliver 8500 Pure Car Truck Carrier (PCTC) which is the largest capacity of car carriers’ vessel in the world.

In addition to shipbuilding, XSI also involves in the business of fabricating and installing of steel structures, ship repairing, manufacturing of offshore oil industry equipment, and computer software developing and consulting. XSI’s products are mainly exported to Europe, America, and Southeast Asia with plans to extend to the African market and their quality got certificate from various world bodies.

Abu Bakarr Kargbo is a Senior Staff Writer of Standard Times Newspaper in Sierra Leone and an Intern at People’s Daily Online.