Shanghai shipyard sets sights on cruise liner market

Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co Ltd will start the construction of the nation's first self-made cruise liner in 2019 after completing a year-long overhaul of a shipyard.

The Shanghai-based shipbuilder aims to produce three to four cruise ships annually, according to its chief technical officer.

"All-around preparatory work will kick off next year. As the cruise shipbuilding is so much different from the cargo ships or container ships that we've built before, we have to transform our factory and convert the production flow," said Tao Ying, chief technical officer of Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co Ltd.