A ship under construction in a shipbuilding yard in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

The shipbuilding sector in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province is showing a steady upward trend in recent years thanks to the post-pandemic recovery in global seaborne trading.

According to Liang Xinfang, president of the Taizhou Shipbuilding Industry Association, shipbuilding orders for local companies are already piled high, with some scheduled until 2024.

With increased orders, Taizhou is rising briskly as a high-quality manufacturer. Solid progress has been made in developing high value-added ship models, particularly in producing LNG tankers, which are equipped with tanks ensuring that gas is kept in a liquid state at — 160 C.

An LNG ship developed by Taizhou Fangxing Shipbuilding Co Ltd began construction last November and is expected to be delivered this December.

The ship's construction is a milestone for shipbuilding in Taizhou, as it is the first LNG vessel order received by the city, which means the city is now capable of building LNG ships, according to Yang Junbin, secretary-general of the Taizhou Shipbuilding Industry Association.

Apart from LNG ships, Taizhou has also made headway in producing other high-end ships.

Last July, Zhuohaijun 8, the largest dredger in Asia by mud volume dredged per hour built by Taizhou, was launched in the city's Sanmen county.

The recovery comes after a year-long recession seen in the city's shipbuilding sector.

Half of the shipbuilders in Taizhou disappeared after 2008, which was a watershed moment for the city's shipping industry, due to the global financial crisis and excess capacity in the shipping industry.  It wasn't until 2020 that the crisis' survivors, along with some newcomers, bounced back.

Established in 2006, the Taizhou Shipbuilding Industry Association now has 211 members, including 47 shipbuilders and 78 shipping operators.