Cosco Shipping is to build and operate two 700 TEU battery-powered electric containerships for use on the Yangtze River in China.
The vessels, which are due for delivery in late 2023, have been labelled China’s first ‘green zero-carbon intelligent electrification pilot’ ships.
According to The Martime Executive, Cosco announced that it had completed the construction order, valued at $18.4 million, on March 18 during a ceremony involving 51 companies and institutions.
The vessels, which will be 120 metres long with a beam of 23 metres and a depth of five metres, will be built at Cosco Shipping’s yard in Yangzhou. The first vessel is expected to be delivered in October 2023 with the second being ready just two months later.
Cosco subsidiary, Shanghai Pan Asia Shipping, will operate the vessels over a distance of 600 nautical miles along the Yangtze from Shanghai to Wuhan.
“Cosco Shipping Development is leading the research to develop the power system for the vessels. They will use containerised batteries that have a capacity of 50 000 kWh charged on shore,” the maritime magazine reported.
“Cosco says this project will improve its ability to develop and manufacture the containerised marine box-type battery which will be the size of a 20-foot (six-metre) container. Each vessel will use 36 of the batteries and Cosco envisions developing a network of charging stations and depots to exchange the batteries along the river,” the publication reported.
The vessels will also be equipped with new smart technologies to assist in navigation as well as a visual system to monitor and warn of dangers in the shipping channel.
“The company expects to accumulate experience from the development and operation of the containerships that can be used to further the development of electric-powered vessels. The goal is to fully electrify the Yangtze and expand to other inland routes, including the Pearl River, Bohai Bay, and northern China,” the publication reported.
In a separate project, China recently completed the largest ever electric cruise ship, Three Gorges1. The vessel, to enter service in April 2022, is powered by a 7 500-kWh marine power battery and will cruise the Three Gorges Dam region.
