Recently, CCTV’s Focus Report aired a series titled “Opening Up Vast Prospects for Chinese Modernization,” focusing on Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (herein referred to as Mawei Shipyard), a renowned shipbuilding enterprise in Fuzhou. So, how did Mawei Shipyard develop new quality productive forces and contribute to Fuzhou’s intelligent manufacturing and maritime achievements?
Mawei Shipyard, located on Reed Island in Lianjiang. (Photo by reporter Bao Hua)
Curve Overtaking, Setting Sail for the BRI
Located on Reed Island in Lianjiang, the Mawei Shipyard, originally known as the Foochow Arsenal, is the birthplace of numerous firsts in China and even Asia, including China’s first 1,000-ton steamship, the first steel warship, and the first seaplane, among many others.
Currently, Mawei Shipyard is in full swing, with a string of successes: the world’s largest open-top container ship and Fuzhou’s first RORO ship have been delivered; construction has started on two 79.8-meter large tuna purse seine vessels; and the dry dock project for the 700 TEU container ship has been successfully completed.
In recent years, when the global shipbuilding market faced a downturn, Mawei Shipyard, under pressure and competition, achieved a “curve overtaking” strategy through structural adjustments and transformation, positioning itself for success in the industry.
“We are building the largest specialized shipbuilding base in Fujian Province, committed to producing various types of vessels for countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative,” said a representative from Mawei Shipyard. The company focuses on the production of research vessels, open-top container ships, RORO ships, deep-sea aquaculture equipment, and other specialized vessels.
Among them, the 3700TUE container ship MW461-2 is the world’s largest open-top container ship, and it is also China’s high-value, high-tech, and highly challenging export to foreign markets.
Notably, the 84M twin-hull semi-submersible multi-purpose mobile platform and the 105-meter electrically propelled saturation diving support vessel won the OSJ Offshore Support Vessel Award in London in 2014 and the OSJ Deep-Sea Equipment Technology Innovation Award in 2017, respectively.
Green and Low-Carbon: Achieving Intelligent Manufacturing in Fuzhou
To meet the development needs of the global shipping industry, Mawei Shipyard has vigorously promoted the high-end, green, and intelligent transformation of shipbuilding, designing and constructing high-value, green, and low-carbon ship types such as RORO ships to boost intelligent manufacturing in Fuzhou.
A few months ago, Fuzhou’s first RORO ship, the 7500-car capacity dual-fuel RORO ship “Minjiangkou”, was successfully delivered and set sail.
According to technicians, the ship adopts several advanced green and environmentally friendly technologies, including infrared thermal imaging, image recognition algorithms, object monitoring algorithms, and edge computing, along with various digital methods. Specifically, compared to traditional fuel oil car ships, this vessel saves approximately 20% in energy consumption, and reduces carbon emissions by about 27%, nitrogen oxide emissions by 30%, sulfur emissions by 99%, and particulate matter (PM) emissions by over 90%. According to People's Daily, the Minjiangkou, which carries 16 brands and around 5,000 vehicles, has become a “star ship” on the China-UAE route.
The Deep-sea Aquaculture Platform is another “star ship” built by Mawei Shipyard. Recently, the fast delivery system of “Mintou 1” attracted significant public attention.
The “Mintou 1”, built by Mawei Shipyard, is China’s first semi-submersible fishery-tourism integration platform, featuring advantages such as mechanization, intelligence, and resistance to wind and waves, resembling a “steel hero at sea.” To date, Mawei Shipyard has built four deep-sea aquaculture platforms, continuously providing a new engine for Fuzhou’s smart farms.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the “Maritime Fuzhou” strategic concept. Currently, Fuzhou is accelerating the construction of the “One Zone, Two Bases, Three Highlands” on Reed Island: the Fuma Industrial Cooperation Park Pilot Zone, the Fuzhou (Lianjiang) National Ocean Fisheries Base, and the Fuzhou International Aquatic Products Trading Hub, along with the Ocean Engineering Equipment and Ocean Biotechnology Innovation High Grounds, and the Digital Intelligence Fisheries Innovation High Ground, continuing to create more maritime wonders and intelligent manufacturing achievements. (Fuzhou Evening News reporter Zheng Ruiyang)
