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Report has Shanghai Waigaoqiao, with Fincantieri support, building for Carnival's China venture

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Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding - seasoned builder of bulk carriers, oil tankers and container ships (Photo: SWS)
Update adds Carnival Corp. & plc comment. The giant Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co. plans to build a cruise ship for the Chinese market with technical support from Fincantieri, according to a Xinhua news agency report.

This would be part of the existing joint venture between Shanghai Waigaoqiao's parent, China State Shipbuilding Corp. (CSSC), China Investment Corp. and Carnival Corp. & plc.

Construction would begin in 2017 for a hoped-for delivery in 2020, the Xinhua report said. It cited Chen Jun, deputy manager of Shanghai Waigaoqiao, as putting the newbuild's size in excess of 100,000gt and the cost at about US$1bn.

Commenting on the report, a Carnival Corp. spokesman on Thursday told Seatrade Cruise News the shipbuilding joint venture has not been finalized between CSSC and Fincantieri.

Shanghai Waigaoqiao is a seasoned builder of bulk carriers, oil tankers and container ships. It has delivered 11.3% of the world’s fleet of capsize bulk carriers and 8.3% of the world’s very large crude carriers, according to the company's website.

In late October Carnival Corp. & plc confirmed its plan to launch a multi-ship domestic brand for China with joint venture partners CSSC and China Investment Corp.

Officials said that venture could involve both new and existing ships, but gave no specifics on when operations might start.

At the time Alan Buckelew, Carnival Corp.'s Shanghai-based chief operations officer, said: 'We are planning, with Fincantieri and CSSC, to form a partnership that will build world-class ships.'

He added that phase of the joint venture was still to be finalized.