Shirada Imperial Shipyards

The Shirada Imperial Shipyards are the largest shipyards in the New Greater Empire, occupying a large portion of the Shirada Orbital Array, a contiguous ring of artificial space stations orbiting Ishigaki. The Shirada Imperial Shipyards and most of the Orbital Array are owned by the Shirada Orbital Holdings Corporation, a joint-stock company with the Imperial government as the largest shareholder. Due to the strategic importance of the Shirada Imperial Shipyards, the Imperial Navy also has a large stake in the Shirada Orbital Holdings Corporation, and every provincial government on Ishigaki also controls 5% each of the Corporation. The largest private shareholder is the Mitsuhishi Aerospace Group.

With the largest and most extensive orbital drydock facilities and shipyards within the Empire, the Shirada Orbital Holdings Corporation leases the facilities and services of the Imperial Shipyards to various corporations that produce starships for both the military and civilian markets. Besides production, the Imperial Shipyards also provide maintenance and refitting services, primarily for the Imperial Navy, which leases and operates a large portion of the Imperial Shipyards at a heavily subsidised price. Other refueling and ship servicing functions for the general public are also carried out on the Orbital Array by subsidiary and client companies.

Famous throughout the Human Sphere for the high quality of its products and services, the Imperial Shipyards and the other operations of the Orbital Array contribute a major portion of Ishigaki's gross planetary product. Ishigaki's reputation as a centre for shipbuilding and the aerospace industry is well known throughout the Human Sphere. It is estimated that some 40% of all spacecraft produced in the Empire are made at the Imperial Shipyards alone, and many of these spacecraft are also exported to foreign buyers. It is a known fact that the majority of the Imperial Navy's warships are made at the Imperial Shipyards, from the Akagi-class battleship to the Nodachi-class corvette.