Electric ships charge at the charging piles. [Photo/Tide News]

The construction of a new energy ship manufacturing base in Huzhou Green Intelligent Ship Technology Industrial Park in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, is in full swing following the resumption of work after the Spring Festival holiday.

With a total investment of over 8.28 billion yuan ($1.2 billion), the industrial park is set to transform the region's shipbuilding capabilities.

The first phase of the project will establish a new energy ship manufacturing base, featuring 111,500 square meters of smart factories equipped with 272 welding robots. This phase is expected to achieve an annual production capacity of 200 electric ships, each weighing over 1,000 metric tons.

The second phase will focus on developing an energy support system, including eight charging and swapping stations, equipped with 50 ultra-fast charging piles and over 40 energy storage devices.

Scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, the industrial park will enable mass production of electric ships and attract related industries, fostering a regional green shipbuilding cluster.

Tang Hao, chairman of Huzhou Green Intelligent Ship Technology, revealed ongoing negotiations with leading domestic companies like Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), with some projects expected to materialize this year.

As global demand for new energy ships rises, Huzhou is leveraging its position as China's sole inland waterway transformation demonstration zone, aiming to produce over 1,800 electric ships by 2030.