Construction begins on seven fully electric ships
2026-01-25 20:01:00
By Chen Zai
Construction of seven all-electric bulk carriers began on January 22 at Yichang Shipbuilding Industrial Park in Zhijiang. The ceremony also featured the launch of a model of a self-driving pleasure boat, marking a significant advancement in green and intelligent shipbuilding along the Yangtze River.
Construction of seven all-electric bulk carriers began on January 22 at Yichang Shipbuilding Industrial Park in Zhijiang. The ceremony also featured the launch of a model of a self-driving pleasure boat, marking a significant advancement in green and intelligent shipbuilding along the Yangtze River.
On January 22, seven 10,000-ton-class pure electric bulk carriers and models from the Xinghe series of autonomous pleasure boats are launched in Zhijiang, Yichang.
The bulk carriers, designed by the Wuhan Changjiang Ship Design Institute, have a maximum cargo capacity of 10,000 tons and are equipped with 10 large-scale lithium-battery modules totaling nearly 20,000 kWh.
The first model of the Xinghe series autonomous pleasure boat is co-developed by Zhijiang Jiangbo Shipbuilding and Hangzhou Lanjingyun Technology Company. This 7.2-meter model, designed for cultural tourism and business hospitality, features autonomous navigation, intelligent docking, and voice interaction capabilities.
"It will pioneer a new smart service consumption model on the water and is expected to unlock the potential of rivers, lakes, and other urban waterfront spaces," said Jin Xin, board director of Lanjingyun, discussing the model's future prospects.
To create a scalable model for the green transformation of inland waterway transportation, new vessels will be tested on routes exceeding 1,000 kilometers to assess their feasibility for large-scale production and application.
Reporter Zhang Kai, Correspondents Zhang Liming and Long Shiqi contributed to this story.
