Electric garbage-cleaning ship starts construction
2023-12-11 19:12:42
Chinese version by Hu Xingjun, Sanxia Daily
Photo by Zheng Jiayu
English version edited by Tan Maolin, Yichang International Communication Studio
Zigui Huaxing Shipping yesterday began building a fully electric garbage-cleaning vessel, another milestone in Yichang’s goal of achieving green electric transport on the Yangtze River. The fully electric cruise ship Yangtze River Three Gorges 1 and the first hydrogen-powered passenger ship Three Gorges Hydrogen Ship 1 are already in operation on the river.
Photo by Zheng Jiayu
English version edited by Tan Maolin, Yichang International Communication Studio
Zigui Huaxing Shipping yesterday began building a fully electric garbage-cleaning vessel, another milestone in Yichang’s goal of achieving green electric transport on the Yangtze River. The fully electric cruise ship Yangtze River Three Gorges 1 and the first hydrogen-powered passenger ship Three Gorges Hydrogen Ship 1 are already in operation on the river.
Construction of the new 82-meter multi-purpose vessel – China’s first fully electric garbage-cleaning ship on the Yangtze – is expected to last 6 months. The vessel will be a "4E" ship, with the four "E"s standing for energy, exergy, economic and environmental. "Exergy" is often referred to as "available energy" or "useful work potential." In thermodynamics, the exergy of a system is the maximum useful work that can be produced as the system is brought into equilibrium with its environment by an ideal process.
The estimated cost of this ship is 29.9 million yuan (US$4.16 million). The hull will be built by Huaxing, and the electric system will be provided by CSIC No.712 Research Institute.
Yichang has already built infrastructure, such as LNG filling stations and shore power systems, to support clean energy river transportation. These projects give Yichang a first-mover advantage in developing a smart green ship industry.
