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China’s Huarun Dadong Dockyard making steady headway in cruise ship repair

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L-R clockwise: HRDD’s commercial director Zhang Chengbi; Costa Serena in drydock; first cruise job Costa Atlantica; growing cruise ship roster
Since China’s Huarun Dadong Dockyard (HRDD) ventured into cruise ship drydocking and repair at the start of 2015, the yard has been making steady headway in this growing segment.

HRDD was the first shipyard in China to engage with cruise ship repair.  This was a decade after it began operations in the ship repair and conversion business.

Since then the dockyard, which is located on Chongming Island in Shanghai, has been chalking up both international and local cruise ship clients.

In January this year, HRDD handled the dry docking and repair of 290mtr long Costa Serena. 

It is also the only yard in China to forge an exclusive agreement with Italy’s Fincantieri, HRDD’s commercial director, Zhang Chengbi told Seatrade Cruise News.

‘It has been a steep curve of gaining experience in the cruise sector and making necessary changes to meet expectations,’ he said.

The first cruise vessel to drydock at HRDD was the 292.5mtr long, Costa Atlantica. ‘When Costa Atlantica came into the yard in January 2015, the owner organized 650 subcontractors from around the world to carry out the interior refurbishing project and some special items,’ Zhang remarked.

At that time, there were no Chinese companies who had the experience in cruise refurbishing projects, recalls Zhang who is a speaker in the Shipbuilding, Design and Repair session taking place on November 2, during Seatrade Cruise Asia Pacific 2017 in the Baoshan district of Shanghai, China.

The work included maintainence and conversion of the gym and spa rooms, some public areas and 52 cabins.

HRDD’s second cruise reference was Henna, owned by HNA, (now no longer sailing) which stayed from mid-January to  April 2015. Besides sandblasting, painting and engine overhaul, HRDD also modified various public spaces including duty free shops, entertainment rooms, the casino and restaurants.

Zhang said the yard also rose to the occasion to handle the emergency engine repairs on Skysea Golden Era in September 2016.

HRDD is a joint venture, invested by China Resources Investment Enterprises , Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group, Shanghai Yatong and Shanghai Datong NGS Industries.

Its yard facilities include eight repair jetties, four floating docks and a graving dock. It can accommodate ships up to VLCC tanker size and an annual capacity to service over 300 vessels and three offshore repairs/conversions.

From the time HRDD opened for business in November 1995, it has handled over 4,000 repair projects, 93% for overseas shipowners.

In February 2016, Huarun Dadong marked a milestone when it began a partnership with Fincantieri for cruise dry docking, repairs and conversion. ‘We hope the cooperation between us will be continue and deepen,’ said Zhang.

Under the terms of the exclusive agreement, Fincantieri provides technical support for designingproject and safety management, and consultancy services especially with more sophisticated conversion projects,’ he said. ‘Both parties are confident with the opportunities for cooperation in the Chinese market and look forward the considerable scope for collaboration in the future.’

On entering the cruise sector HRDD built a new cooling water pump station, black water and grey water collection and disposal systems for the special requirements of cruise ships, says Zhang. ‘Our dock spaces and piers have been upgraded to accommodate cruise ships with convenient lifting facilities, special dock blocks, and jetty fenders.’