Why Can China's Shipbuilding Industry Make a Comeback?

It took China more than thirty years after the world to build its first container ship. Why, in just a few decades, has China shifted from technology importation to a position of "far ahead"? What are the reasons behind this transformation? To answer the question of why it is China, let's take a look at a super-large container ship worth over one billion yuan today.
Container ships play a vital role in ocean freight transportation, accounting for about 40% of global shipbuilding orders each year. Designing and constructing super-large container ships reflects a country's capabilities in ship design, supporting systems, and construction. Currently, China, South Korea, and Japan are the countries with the ability to build such ships and hold the dominant market share.
To maximize container capacity, the cargo hold openings of super-large container ships are almost twice as large as those of smaller ones. However, with larger openings, the torsion problem of the ship becomes more pronounced when sailing in oblique waves. This is where torsion boxes come into play to counteract the torsional deformation caused by waves. The "EH47 crack-stopping steel" used in these boxes was developed by China under significant technological blockades, breaking through numerous barriers to firmly grasp the decision-making power on whether domestically produced crack-stopping steel meets the standards.
This ship also boasts a unique "green heart," equipped with the world's most powerful dual-fuel main engine, which China owns the intellectual property rights to. Against the backdrop of the global acceleration toward green and low-carbon transformation, energy-saving and environmentally friendly ships have become a new demand. China seized the initiative early on, optimizing ship propulsion systems and adopting green new fuels. By leveraging the new track of green ships, China has secured the next wave of mainstream markets, winning 70% of global green ship orders.
Modern super-large container ships often employ pre-outfitting technology, which involves over 300 specialties, including structure, machinery, electricity, communication, and underwater acoustics. This is the most complex and error-prone process. China's intelligent construction technology not only plans the requirements for outfitting components in various parts of the hull but even details the routing of every pipe and cable. The development of super-large container ships has also driven the growth of surrounding industries. When parts are needed, they can be supplied within half an hour, ensuring seamless配套.
In the Yangtze River Delta, within a 200-kilometer radius, there are thousands of shipyards and supporting enterprises, allowing all parts to be assembled with ease. Despite sanctions and suppression from the United States against China's shipbuilding industry, the generations of shipbuilders are our greatest strength. The answer lies in the people themselves. If others refuse to provide something, we will persevere until we succeed. If there is no path, we will forge a new one.