Homegrown cruise ship enters production stage

The first cruise liner to be built in the Chinese mainland entered the production phase on Friday, with the 135,500-metric-ton Vista-class vessel expected to showcase China's cutting-edge prowess in shipbuilding technologies, experts said.

The steel sheet cutting ceremony for the cruise ship was held at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co Ltd. The vessel is the first of the two 135,500-ton cruise ships written into a design and construction cooperation agreement by China State Shipbuilding Corp, Carnival Corp and Fincantieri during the China International Import Expo in last November.

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding has invested 1.86 billion yuan ($262 million) to adapt its shipyards for the construction of the cruise ship, said Zhou Qi, vice-president of Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding.