Shanghai Waigaoqiao and Cruise Shipbuilding

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Shanghai Waigaoqiao and Cruise Shipbuilding

Shanghai Waigaoqiao, home to CSSC Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co. (SWS), is a specific site for modern cruise shipbuilding. The most visible example is the Adora Magic City: SWS signed the construction contract in November 2018, developed and built the ship, and handed it over in Shanghai on November 4, 2023, after sea trials. CSSC is the parent shipbuilding group; subsequent operations are handled by Adora Cruises.

A major project with many interfaces

At 323.6 meters long and with a gross tonnage of 135,500 (GT), the Adora Magic City is one of the larger ocean-going ships. It can accommodate up to 5,246 guests in 2,125 cabins. According to project information, its 16 decks include around 40,000 square meters of public spaces for relaxation and recreation. These figures show why building a cruise ship involves far more than assembling a hull: accommodation, public spaces, and technical systems must work together in a fully operational vessel within a confined space.

Project reports cite 107 systems, 55,000 equipment sets, and 25 million individual parts. The project also involved around 4,750 kilometers of cables, 365 kilometers of piping, and 120 kilometers of air ducts. Managing quantities on this scale makes the coordination of design, manufacturing, installation, and testing a central part of shipyard work. For the Adora Magic City, SWS worked for more than five years with 361 first-tier suppliers and 1,105 supporting companies. More than 5,000 engineers and technical specialists from 30 countries took part in the construction.

Collaboration through to delivery

SWS coordinated the international collaboration as the shipyard responsible for construction and signed the handover documents at delivery. Project reports identify work on the propulsion system, cabin environment, and vibration and noise performance as technical challenges. The interior design brought together Eastern and Western influences. Artwork inspired by the Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road adorned key public areas. Facilities included a theater with seating for up to 1,000 guests.

After handover, CSSC Cruise Technology Development and its subsidiary Adora Cruises prepared the ship for commercial service. The maiden voyage from Shanghai Wusongkou was scheduled for January 1, 2024. The sequence of roles can thus be traced through the same vessel: contract and construction at SWS, trials and delivery in Shanghai, followed by preparations for cruise operations by the operating company. The overview Shipyards in Cruise Shipbuilding covers other locations. Ship Sections, Shipyard Construction, and Undocking explains how prefabricated sections come together to form a ship. The differences between newbuilds and conversions are explained in Building Shipyards, Repair Yards, and Refits.