Sailing into a New Golden Age 
These numbers indicate there鈥檚 still a long way to go before the shipbuilding industry in China catches up to top world standards.
JJ: -This ship is called the Clio, what kind of ship is this?
-This is a dry cargo ship 74000 DWT and it has been built with the most modern machineries in accordance to the recent rules of full parties鈥 concerns. This vessel is built by Jiannang shipyard group and it is a series of four vessels. Now, it is the last one and it is going to be delivered end of April.
The quality is according to the standards agreed in the contract and, of course, there is room for improvement. And I would say that by communicating with the yard, they are understanding. Their ways of communication prove that always they are adopting measures to improve their quality.
JJ:- Would you recommend to your ship-owners that they have more ships like this built in China?
Yes, I would but they are fully booked until 2007/2008 I believe, and the owners would like to have as soon as possible their vessels now that the market is very good.
Doubts about the capability of China鈥檚 shipbuilding quality remain in the minds of some countries. However, low-cost shipbuilding in China appeals to more and more of the world鈥檚 ship owners.
I鈥檓 working for the American Bureau of shipping. ABS is a ship classification society. We carry out people, we call them surveyors to work together with the shipyard together and to make sure the ships are built in accordance to approved plans and in accordance with our rules and regulations.
JJ: What are the differences between Chinese shipbuilding practices and shipbuilding practices of other countries?
- I assume that you are talking about other shipbuilding nations such as Japan and Korea.
Right now, there are very little differences between Japanese and Korean shipyards in terms of quality. There are minor differences such as project management and the delivery time, but the Chinese shipyards are closing the gap on this one.
JJ: -What do Foreign ship buyers think of the quality of Chinese shipbuilding?
- As far as I know, Foreign ship-owners who purchase ships from Chinese shipyards are satisfied by the quality. China is competing with Japan and Korea in terms of ship exports. And China is coming up really fast to become one of the biggest shipbuilding nations in the world.
According to reliable data, 70-80% of ships built in Shanghai are for foreign shipping corporations. These companies demand the highest international standards of excellence. For example, the American Bureau of Shipping states in Article 36.15.1; All valves are to be constructed and tested in accordance with a recognized standard, such as ANSI, MSS or other, acceptable to the Bureau. They are to bear the trademark of the manufacturer legibly stamped or cast on the exterior of the valve, as well as the pressure rating class for which the manufacturer guarantees the valve will meet the requirements of the standards.
The Shipbuilding industry in China faces many challenges in terms of state of the art techniques and operations.
