Key component for new ship lift delivered
2025-09-24 20:09:31
By Yan Wanqin.
The main hoist of the world's largest winding-type vertical ship lift was delivered Monday to its client in Yichang. The ship lift is intended for use in the navigation facility at the Guangxi Baise Water Conservancy Project, now under construction in Baise City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Built by Gezhouba Group Mechanical & Ship Co., Ltd. of China, a subsidiary of China Energy Engineering Corporation, the ship lift has a maximum lifting capacity of 10,700 tons and a maximum lifting height of 88.8 meters. Once complete, it will become the world's second-largest ship lift after the Three Gorges ship lift and the largest of its type.
The main hoist of the world's largest winding-type vertical ship lift was delivered Monday to its client in Yichang. The ship lift is intended for use in the navigation facility at the Guangxi Baise Water Conservancy Project, now under construction in Baise City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Built by Gezhouba Group Mechanical & Ship Co., Ltd. of China, a subsidiary of China Energy Engineering Corporation, the ship lift has a maximum lifting capacity of 10,700 tons and a maximum lifting height of 88.8 meters. Once complete, it will become the world's second-largest ship lift after the Three Gorges ship lift and the largest of its type.
Main hoisting system of the vertical ship lift at the Baise Water Conservancy Project. Photo by Shi Jie.There are two main types of vertical ship lifts: rack-and-pinion and steel cable winding hoist. The Three Gorges ship lift, the world's largest and most complex, uses a rack-and-pinion system.
Serving as the "power center" of the ship lift, the hoist incorporates innovative designs and manufacturing techniques to overcome multiple world-class engineering challenges.
The project team achieved breakthroughs, including fully automated robotic welding, accumulated eight national patents and applied 24 proprietary technologies. These accomplishments demonstrate the advanced capabilities of China’s equipment manufacturing sector.
The Baise Water Conservancy Project is a major part of the country's plan for developing its western region. It consists of ship locks, a middle channel and the vertical ship lift. With an annual one-way throughput capacity of 6.02 million tons, the project is expected to begin trial operations by the end of 2026.
