How the world's largest ship lift works (4 photos + 1 video)

The Gupitan ship lift, located in the Chinese province of Guizhou, is the largest in the world. It is capable of lifting ships up to 500 tons to a height of 199 m. This structure is an impressive feat of engineering.





Dams are characterized by sudden changes in water levels, which make navigating large waterways challenging. Fortunately, modern technologies make it much easier, and the Gupitan ship lift, which is part of the Gupitan hydroelectric power station, is a striking example of this.

Its construction on the Wujiang River was completed in 2021. It consists of three different hydraulic lifts connected by shipping channels with a total length of 2.3 km and greatly simplifies navigation on waterways.



Each of the three lifts that are part of the Gupitan ship-lifting complex has a lifting capacity of 1,800 tons and a lifting speed of 8 meters per minute. The Changjiang Research Institute decided to divide the system into three stages to maximize the efficiency of ship transportation and reduce the risk of congestion. Once a ship passes the first elevator, another can be lifted while the first ship continues through the second and third elevators.





Each elevator consists of two rows of drums with a lifting cable, and gearboxes are located on both sides of the lifting tank. According to Stromag, a partner in the development of the world's largest ship lift, this design allows for a lifting speed of about 8 meters per minute, allowing a 500-tonne vessel (the average weight of passenger boats) to be raised or lowered in 10 minutes, reducing the time it takes to clear the dam.



The previous record holder for the largest ship lift is also located in China, at the Three Gorges Hydroelectric Station on the Yangtze River in Hubei Province. It is only 14 meters shorter than Gupitan.