On June 30, Yinghui South Shipyard, a subsidiary of CSSC Offshore & Marine, and Qingdao Pilot Station held a signing ceremony in Qingdao for the construction of two new energy small waterplane area pilot boats made of full aluminum alloy. This signing marks another major project secured by Yinghui South Shipyard in the first half of 2025, laying a solid foundation for annual performance with a strong “quarterly finale” and injecting robust momentum into the marine equipment upgrade during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.
Attendees at the ceremony included Zhang Zimu, Deputy Director of Qingdao Transportation Bureau; Song Xuebin, Party Branch Secretary and Director of Qingdao Pilot Station; Ye Cong, Director of China Ship Scientific Research Center; and Chen Xiaoliang, General Manager of Yinghui South Shipyard. Representatives from Qingdao Transportation Bureau, Qingdao Pilot Station, China Ship Scientific Research Center, and Yinghui South Shipyard were also present.
In his speech, Zhang Zimu stated that this collaboration is a significant step toward the green and intelligent transformation of Qingdao’s shipping industry, setting an example for nationwide port green upgrades. Song Xuebin emphasized that the new energy pilot boats will become a new hallmark of Qingdao’s pilot services, advancing them toward sustainability and smart solutions. Ye Cong pledged that the consortium would prioritize technological innovation and meticulous management to ensure the project becomes a time-tested benchmark.
The signing signifies the official launch of Qingdao Pilot Station’s new energy small waterplane area pilot boat project. All parties will collaborate closely to drive the project forward, contributing to the high-quality development of Qingdao’s shipping industry and China’s “dual carbon” goals. Moving forward, Qingdao will adopt a more open and pragmatic approach to jointly establish new green shipping benchmarks and write a new chapter in building a strong transportation nation.
The Qingdao Pilot Station’s new energy small waterplane area pilot boat project is Asia’s first demonstration project of its kind, offering a “China solution” for global port green transformation. The project is expected to be completed and operational by 2026.
This project exemplifies Qingdao Pilot Station’s commitment to China’s “dual carbon” strategy and the development of a strong transportation and maritime nation. Featuring a new energy propulsion system and small waterplane area hull design, it will significantly reduce carbon and pollutant emissions, providing new momentum for Qingdao Port’s “zero-carbon port” initiative while enhancing piloting safety and efficiency, elevating Qingdao’s international shipping hub to new heights.
In recent years, as the shipping market evolves, major domestic ports have raised higher demands for pilot boats in terms of safety, speed, and energy efficiency. In 2021, Yinghui South Shipyard and Qingdao Pilot Station first collaborated with China Ship Scientific Research Center to design and build Asia’s first small waterplane area twin-hull pilot boat, the “Ande,” followed by the successful delivery of two innovative monohull pilot boats, the “Anguo” and “Anqiang.”
The two newly signed pilot boats represent an “upgrade” and “breakthrough” by Yinghui South Shipyard and China Ship Scientific Research Center, building on past collaborations to align with “dual carbon” goals. Based on mature hull designs, the project features targeted optimizations, furthering technological synergy and green transformation. The boats measure 24.9 meters in length, 13.4 meters in beam, 5.9 meters in depth, and 3 meters in draft. Equipped with modular lithium battery systems and a redundant power network, they ensure stable and efficient electricity supply. The all-electric propulsion technology guarantees zero carbon emissions throughout their lifecycle. Each boat can carry 6 pilots and 8 crew members, with a design speed of no less than 17.2 knots, enabling safer and more convenient boarding for pilots and enhancing piloting services.
Yinghui South Shipyard will uphold its philosophy of “precision craftsmanship and quality leadership” throughout construction, focusing on shipowner priorities, improving customer service, strengthening production planning and management, and ensuring timely, high-quality delivery. The company aims to repay Qingdao Pilot Station’s trust and support with world-class vessels. Representatives from Qingdao Transportation Bureau, Qingdao Pilot Station, China Ship Scientific Research Center, and Yinghui South Shipyard attended the ceremony.
