Shipyards are extensive facilities which manufacture and repair ships, right from the designing to engineering and the final assembly. Some yards offer full lifecycle services for ships while others focus just on conversions and repairs. Nonetheless, these yards with modern equipment are pivotal for the construction of massive commercial and naval vessels. Some of the largest shipyards in the world are situated in Asia as we will see in this article.
1. Hyundai Heavy Industries Shipyard in Ulsan
A shipbuilding and offshore engineering company, based in Ulsan, South Korea, HHI was established in 1972 and is one of the key players in the maritime industry.
It operates four shipyards and also has facilities in Vietnam. The main shipyard is in Ulsan and it stretches more than 4 km along the coast of Mipo Bay. One of the biggest shipyards in the world, it is known for building vessels including chemical and product tankers, crude oil tankers, container ships, liquified carriers, car carriers, juice carriers, Ro-Pax, asphalt carriers, bulk carriers and molten sulphur carriers.
The facility is high-tech with AI and automation systems in place to streamline operations. It is striving to boost its competitiveness by developing eco-friendly ships driven by alternative fuels like ammonia or methanol and also hybrid electric propulsion ships and liquified hydrogen carriers.
This shipyard has delivered more than 400 new ships since 2009, while HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has built over 2,300 ships for 331 shipowners in 51 countries until 2023.
2. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki Shipyard
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has one major shipyard, the Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works which is spread over 3 sites, Nagasaki Plant, the Koyagi Plant and the Isahaya Plant. There are two other shipyards as well, the Kobe shipyard and and the Shimonoseki shipyard.
The Nagasaki Shipyard is known for constructing advanced and sturdy vessels like LNG Carriers and Cruise Ships.
The history of the main plant started with the founding of the Nagasaki Yotetsusho Foundry by the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1857. The plant has a ship building berth, on which the popular battleship “Musashi” was built, and also a 300,000-ton dry dock.
Koyagi Plant is the biggest and was completed in 1972. This shipyard plant utilizes production methods which take advantage of the 1000 m building dock for constructing LNG and LPG Carriers.
3. DSME’ Okpo Shipyard
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering based in South Korea, is one of the biggest shipbuilders which specialise in constructing different types of vessels, offshore platforms and marine structures.
Its Okpo Shipyard covers more than 4000000 m2 of land area and has facilities and equipment for ship repairs, maintenance and ship construction. It has a dock which can accommodate a 1,000,000 ton vessel and a 900 ton Goliath crane, making it one of the world’s largest shipyard.
The shipyard constructs submarines, destroyers, drill ships, offshore plants, FPSO/FSUs and offers tour programs for visitors.
In 2024, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) won contracts to build 8 liquefied natural gas vessels and 2 LNG carriers.
4. Dalian Shipyard
Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co, Ltd, (DSIC) operates under the China Shipbuilding Industry Company Limited.This is the biggest Chinese shipyard and one of the biggest shipbuilding contract holders in the world.
It can design and construct ships of various kinds and tonnages, including fishing vessels of 1000 tonnes in deadweight to VLCCs of 300,000 tonnes in deadweight, from bulk carriers and oil tankers to 10,000 TEU containerships and LNG Carriers. It also builds LNG Carries, Offshore vessels etc.
The shipyard has contributed immensely to the growth and modernization of the Chinese Navy. In total, 820 naval vessels have been built in the facility since the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
The first gunboat, the first guided-missile submarine, the first destroyer and the first oil-and-water replenishment vessel of the country were all built by DSIC.
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