Last ship slips off Liwan slipway

The last ship ever to be built at Guangzhou Shipyard International's (GSI) No 3 Slipway, Wisby Atlantic, slipped into the Pearl River on July 10.

People celebrate the launch ceremony for the ship Wisby Atlantic by setting off firecrackers. [Photo/Southern Metropolis Daily]

The No 3 Slipway will be relocated to GSI's new dockyard on Longxue Island in Nansha district. The new construction site covers an area of 2.5 million square meters, five times the area of the old GSI Liwan Factory.

Wisby Atlantic, a 50,000-DWT ship slowly slips into the Pearl River on July 10. [Photo/Southern Metropolis Daily]

The GSI Liwan Factory is home to one 40,000-DWT, two 60,000-DWT slipways and one 50,000-DWT shipyard which were all built and upgraded between 1950 and 1980.

"The No 3 Slipway has a glorious history and it has built many vessels including destroyers for the navy and an 11,100-ton full container ship which was exported to America," said Zhang Shaoxing, a staff member who has been working at GSI for 30 years.

The relocation process is estimated to be completed in 2018.  

Wisby Atlantic is the last ship built at GSI's Liwan Factory, which will soon relocate to Longxue Island of Nansha district, Guangzhou. [Photo/Southern Metropolis Daily]