Shipbuilders to walk the 'smart' path

Strategic shift necessary to offset fallout from competition and shrinking orders

China will acquire more smart shipbuilding technologies, particularly in areas such as the development of new generation liquefied natural gas carriers, internet-connected and high-efficiency manufacturing in its shipyards between 2019 and 2021, senior officials said on Friday.

Xin Guobin, vice-minister of industry and information technology, said though China has price advantages and accumulated mature technologies in building bulk ships, container vessels and oil tankers, the industry can no longer depend on building ships with lower added value.