Container ships undergo repairs at a shipyard in Nantong, Jiangsu province.[Photo by Xu Congjun/For China Daily]

Companies gain from favorable policies in pilot FTZs, shutdown of foreign shipyards

China's ship repair and maintenance sector will see a robust period this year, thanks to favorable policies in the pilot free trade zones and the shutdown of several foreign shipyards for COVID-19 prevention requirements, industry experts said.

Like maintenance services for family vehicles, this kind of work is essential to keep mechanical equipment or machinery running smoothly on a ship. Be it a large structure or a small machine, efficient maintenance can prolong the life of such equipment.

Outside a facility in Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard Co, one of China's largest private ship maintenance companies located in Zhoushan, a part of the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, many large domestic and foreign vessels, including oil tankers, containers and bulk cargo ships, have been lining up for maintenance and refitting operations.

"Because of the size and complexity, it takes several days or weeks to complete each project. Due to the order surge, most of the employees can only take three or four days off in a month," said Liu Jiadong, a manager at the company. Liu said the surge in orders has improved profits and income for both the shipyard and its workers.