Construction of China’s first domestically built large cruise ship marked a key milestone in mid-September as structural work was completed. Assembly for the 135,500 gross ton cruise ship began in November 2020 with construction scheduled to be completed in 2023.

The cruise ship is being built at China State Shipbuilding Corporation’s Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co. for a joint venture between CSSC and Carnival Corporation. It marks the first large cruise ship to be built in China. Fincantieri is advising the Chinese shipyard on the unique elements of cruise ship construction. The cruise ship and a sister ship due for delivery the following year are both based on Carnival Cruise Line’s Vista class ship with some modifications for the Chinese domestic market.

The final pre-assembly placed on the unnamed cruise ship included the deckhouse and funnel for the vessel. According to SWS the assembly measured approximately 115 feet by 85 feet and was made up of six steel sections along with one aluminum alloy section. Standing nearly 79 feet, the shipyard said it was a complicated installation as “the center of gravity of the total section is high and the hosting point is low.” The assembly required an “extremely high hoisting,” after careful planning and was successfully fitted to the ship. It was the last penetration into the ship to be completed.

 

Source: maritime-executive