[ 33 ] Rederi AB Gotland to build another two even more sophisticated ro-pax ships, understandably gave GSI a confidence boost, stimulating further inroads into the ro-pax segment. Although the hulls of Rederi AB Gotland’s Visborg and Thjelvar were still built on the slipways of the old yard in Guangzhou’s Liwan district, fitting out took place downriver of the Pearl River estuary, at the new Nansha, Longxue Island yard. This vast greenfield yard boasts among the most modern shipbuilding facilities in China. Having carved a niche in the ro-pax segment, GSI has invested heavily in passenger ship-specific infrastructure, including an assembly line for ship’s cabins and a thin plate production line. A MULTI-FACETED SHIPYARD Ever since the construction of Rederi AB Gotland’s four ro-pax ferries, GSI has remained ahead of the game, being the world’s most prolific builder of ro-pax tonnage. Many big names in ferry shipping have ordered ro-pax ferries during the last decade as GSI-built ro-pax ferries operate in the Mediterranean, the Dover Strait, the Baltic Sea and Bohai Sea, among other areas. These vessels range in size between 600 and 2,500 passengers and between 1,000 and 4,500 freight lanemetres. No draft, length, beam, deadweight or any other restrictions are imposed by the shipyard’s two giant building docks or the Pearl River, so GSI can build almost any size of ship, including very large ore carriers (VLOCs), very large crude carriers (VLCCs) and very large container vessels (VLCVs). The yard is also a world-leader in the production of product/chemical tankers, having completed no less than 300 medium and large range (MR and LR) tankers in the last two decades alone. The December 2018 delivery of a Polar Class 3 (PC 3)/Arc 7 ice class Arctic condensate oil tanker showcased SHIPBUILDING GSI is rightfully proud of the Ship of the Future project with lead ship P&O Pioneer showing off alongside the cruise ship quay in Guangzhou
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