Signing Ceremony of Cruise Project H1509 between RINA and SWS

Dear Members and Friends, 

The China-Italy Chamber of Commerce is pleased to inform that a signing ceremony of Cruise Project H1509 between RINA and Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) was held on June 29th in Shanghai. 

Project H1509 refers to a cruise ship that will be the largest ever built in China with the ship classification provided by RINA. Ship classification has been at the core of the RINA business since its inception. Today, this business sector represents 26% of the company’s turnover, making it one of the top-ranking marine classification societies in the world.

In this project, technical support will be provided by Fincantieri China, the branch of Fincantieri established in China in 2015. The cruise ship will be built at the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) shipyard, part of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) group, with which Fincantieri signed an agreement in July 2016 to set up a joint venture with the aim of developing and expanding the Chinese cruise industry. 

The project is supported by the Consulate General of Italy in Shanghai and the Shanghai Changning District Government, as well as by companies such as CSSC, CCTD, JVPC and Costa.

Among the distinguished guests present at the signing ceremony were Mr Michele Cecchi, Consul General of Italy in Shanghai, Mr Meng Qingyuan, Changning District Vice Major, Mr Ugo Salerno, Chairman and CEO of RINA, Mr Mario Moretti, RINA Asia Senior Director, Mr Wang Qi, Chairman of SWS, Mr Fabrizio Ferri, CEO of Fincantieri China, Mr Xu Xing, Director of CSSC Cruise Project, Mr Fang Quang, Vice President of CCTD, and Mr Paolo Bazzoni, Chairman of China-Italy Chamber of Commerce. 

Thanks to the collaboration of all parties involved, the Chinese shipbuilding industry will be able to complete the sprint towards the most advanced shipbuilding technology and establish a new benchmark in the history of Chinese shipbuilding.

“This is a project of great importance for the bilateral industrial collaboration strongly supported by the Italian Institutions and by the great efforts of all the stakeholders involved who are committed to ensuring the realization of this ambitious endeavour.” (Mr Michele Cecchi, Consul General of Italy in Shanghai)

“As a Chamber of Commerce, we place great importance on strengthening existing relations within our members, in order to reach a higher level of synergy. The cooperation within members has always been an important pillar. This ceremony represents a strategic achievement in the mechanical sector which reflects the Italian shipbuilding technology and its excellent quality, as a global leader and key factor of the value proposition in China. Rina Group, another showcase of Italian excellence, leader in cruise ship classification, has always been a partner of Fincantieri in Italy and now also in China. Friendship and ties are now strengthened in the Chinese market through continued cooperation. The collaboration between Rina and Fincantieri in this project is a further tangible sign that when Italian companies collaborate abroad they create value for the country and also for local partners.” (Mr Paolo Bazzoni, Chairman of China-Italy Chamber of Commerce)

Kind Regards,
The CICC Team