Dalian's Changxing Island launches significant shipbuilding and maritime equipment project

On August 15, Hengli Heavy Industries broke ground on its Phase II project at the industrial park on Changxing Island, Dalian, a port city of Northeastern China’s Liaoning province.

The ceremony was marked by the presence of provincial leaders, including Hao Peng, Party secretary of Liaoning province and director of the Standing Committee of the Liaoning Provincial People's Congress, who officially announced the project's commencement, and Li Lecheng, governor of Liaoning province. Hengli Group's chairman and president, Chen Jianhua, delivered a keynote speech.

The Phase II expansion is set to focus on producing high-value-added, eco-friendly ships and advanced maritime equipment. Key projects include very large crude carrier (VLCC), liquefied gas carriers, ultra-large container ships, floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) units, offshore wind power installations, and drilling platforms.

The goal is to establish a state-of-the-art, green, and intelligent shipbuilding and maritime equipment manufacturing base. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to process 2.3 million tons of steel and produce 180 engines annually.

Hengli Group's move into shipbuilding began in July 2022 when the company acquired the dormant assets of the former STX Dalian shipyard, which had been idle for a decade. This strategic acquisition, aligned with government initiatives to revitalize existing assets and boost investment, marked Hengli's entry into the shipbuilding industry.

The company aims to create a world-class high-end shipbuilding hub, focusing on marine engineering, engine production, and precision casting. Since launching full-scale operations last year, Hengli Heavy Industries has earned recognition from both domestic and international shipowners, emerging as a model for private enterprises in revitalizing assets and driving economic growth in Northeast China.

During the ceremony, the Dalian Municipal Government and Hengli Group signed two significant agreements aimed at improving petrochemical resource management and stimulating growth in the marine and low-altitude economies.