China recently launched its biggest pure electric bulk carrier, named 'Gezhouba', in an event near the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydropower facility at Yichang, in China's Hubei Province.
Capable of carrying up to 13,740 tonnes of cargo, the Gezhouba is also said to be the largest of its kind in the world, and a major breakthrough in green shipping initiatives.
It is expected to cut fuel use by about 617.5 tonnes, which in turn will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 2,052 tonnes a year.
Measuring 129.98m long, 22m wide, and 7.7m deep, it has a draft of 6.5m, and can accommodate 12 sets of box-type lithium-ion battery units, which can be charged in just 30 minutes, and offer 24,000 kWh of energy, as well as a range of 500km.
Developed by Yichang-based Gezhouba Group Machinery & Ship Co, Ltd, the 10,000-tonne carrier will be used to transport bulk cargo along the Yangtze River.
An integrated network system combining 4G, 5G, BeiDou navigation, and satellite communications is another of the Gezhouba's features, which will aid navigation, as well as automated berthing and unberthing operations.
"The market trend has completely changed," noted Yichang Shipbuilding Industrial Park director Wang Xu, as per a local media report, pointing out that orders for new energy vessels made up 88 per cent of all orders received this year.
In that regard, other types of new energy vessels built in Yichang include the Changhang Huoyun 002, China's first pure LNG bulk carrier, the Yangtze River Three Gorges 1, an electric cruise ship, and the Three Gorges Hydrogen Boat 1, the country's first hydrogen-powered ship, the report added, citing a local official.