The conventional impression of shipbuilding is often sparks flying from welding and giant cranes swinging. However, from the perspective of the management of Jiangsu Haizhongzhou Shipping Industry Co., Ltd., the core challenge during the vessel docking (erection) stage is, in fact, a precise battle of logistics organization.
Blocks are the basic units of ship construction. A large bulk carrier is divided into over one hundred blocks. After these blocks are manufactured and pre-outfitted in workshops, they are stored in block storage yards awaiting lifting onto the berth. The positioning of blocks, the sequence of their retrieval from storage, and the rhythm of lifting together constitute a complex spatial scheduling problem. The ideal scenario is "zero waiting" for blocks — being lifted directly from the workshop onto the berth. However, in practice, due to factors such as the berth assembly sequence, weather windows, and block completeness, this places extremely high demands on management.
Haizhongzhou implements a docking network planning management system. Each block is assigned clear completeness criteria and a latest berth assembly date. The technical department completes the marking of docking alignment lines, allowance lines, and reference lines for each block in advance. Before a block leaves the workshop, it must undergo layer‑by‑layer confirmation of structure, coating, and outfitting. Blocks entering the yard should be "complete products" to eliminate the need for secondary rework on the berth.
Just‑In‑Time (JIT) delivery of materials represents another invisible efficiency driver. For large equipment such as main engines, generator sets, rudder blades, etc., the delivery window must be precisely matched with the berth assembly schedule. Arriving too early occupies valuable yard space; arriving too late halts the entire production line. Outfitting items such as pipes, cable trays, and ventilation ducts are delivered in kit form on a per‑block basis. The materials for one block are packed into uniform pallets and transported to the workstation, allowing workers to avoid searching through a large warehouse for scattered parts.
Whether this logistics system operates smoothly is ultimately reflected in the berth cycle, a key performance indicator. Through continuous process optimization, Haizhongzhou Shipbuilding has reduced the berth cycle for its main vessel types to an industry‑leading level. The improved berth turnaround efficiency is directly translated into increased production capacity. In today's highly competitive shipbuilding industry, the manufacturing technologies inside the workshops have largely converged among different shipyards. The real efficiency gap often lies hidden in these details of logistics organization.
