China’s shipbuilding industry is entering a new era defined by speed, automation, and artificial intelligence. According to a recent report by CGTN, the country has maintained its position as one of the world’s leading shipbuilders, while accelerating its transition toward intelligent manufacturing.

At the center of this transformation is China’s fast-growing cruise ship program, where digital systems are now playing a decisive role in how large passenger vessels are built.

At a major facility operated by Shanghai Shipbuilding Group, construction of China’s second domestically built large cruise ship, Adora Flora City, has passed the 91 percent completion mark.

Even more striking is the pace of work.

Compared with China’s first homebuilt cruise ship, the new vessel’s construction timeline has been shortened by around eight months—a significant achievement in an industry where delays are common and projects often span several years. This improvement highlights a fundamental shift in how modern shipyards now operate.

One example captured in the report offers a glimpse into this new approach.

In a warehouse near the shipyard, newly delivered interior fittings arrive daily—everything from cabin panels to furniture components. Once unloaded, automated conveyor belts and robotic systems take over, sorting and storing materials in less than four minutes.

Behind this process is what engineers describe as an “artificially intelligent brain.”

This digital platform:

• Monitors incoming supplies

• Allocates storage space

• Schedules production steps

• Coordinates delivery to workshops

• Adjusts workflows in real time

Compared with traditional planning methods, AI-powered scheduling has increased workshop productivity by about 25 percent.

The result is a tightly synchronized production chain where materials, workers, and machines move almost continuously, with minimal downtime.

Managing this level of complexity has long been one of the biggest advantages of European shipbuilders. Now, China is using artificial intelligence to close that gap.

China’s cruise ship ambitions are closely linked to the broader development of its shipbuilding sector under China State Shipbuilding Corporation, the world’s largest shipbuilding group.

CGTN’s report makes clear that China’s shipbuilding success is no longer based solely on scale and manpower. It is increasingly driven by data, automation, and intelligent systems.