S'pore yards can compete and win on quality

THE "low rates" charged by Chinese shipyards, especially for the building of smaller offshore vessels, mean Singapore yards and others in the region need to focus on higher value-added vessels to maintain their competitive edge and survive.

George Horsington, president of business development at shipbuilder Jaya Holdings, believes that Singapore and other yards can "compete and win" where high quality and specialised designs are important for customers, and need not worry about the influx of "cheap builds" from China.

Mr Horsington, who spoke at a seminar during last week's Asia Pacific Maritime 2014 show, had some critical words for the China effect on the small vessel building market.