In July 2025, the “Purchase Project of Four 67.6-meter LNG Dual-Purpose Vessels” submitted by Zhongjiao Runyang Company, a subsidiary of Jining Port and Shipping Group, received a national subsidy of 13.3 million yuan under the “Two New” policy for new energy and clean energy vessels.
This not only signifies the transition of the new energy vessel subsidy policy from paper to practice but also reflects that China’s green transformation of inland waterway shipping has entered a substantive implementation phase.
### The Green Value of the Four LNG Dual-Purpose Vessels
The four 67.6-meter LNG dual-purpose vessels purchased by Zhongjiao Runyang Company can be regarded as a “technological benchmark” for green inland waterway shipping.
These vessels use LNG (liquefied natural gas) as fuel, offering significant environmental advantages over traditional oil. According to estimates, LNG-powered vessels can reduce pollutant emissions by over 90% and carbon emissions by 15%, greatly mitigating the impact of inland shipping on the surrounding environment.
In terms of endurance, these vessels also perform exceptionally well, meeting the demands of long-distance inland transportation and ensuring efficient and stable logistics. In terms of supporting innovations, leveraging the advantages of Jining’s inland ports, Jining Port and Shipping Group has built LNG refueling facilities, forming a closed-loop system of “vessel-port-gas.”
More importantly, from a long-term operational perspective, LNG-powered vessels have a clear advantage in fuel costs, saving 3,000 yuan per 100 kilometers. As operating time increases, the cost-saving effect will become even more pronounced, delivering substantial economic benefits for enterprises and achieving a win-win for both environmental protection and profitability.
It can be said that the deployment of these four LNG dual-purpose vessels marks not only a significant milestone in Jining Port and Shipping Group’s green development but also sets an exemplary precedent for the entire inland waterway shipping industry.
The implementation of this project demonstrates the technical feasibility, economic rationality, and policy-supported operability of new energy vessels to the industry, dispelling many enterprises’ doubts about such vessels.
Moving forward, it is expected to attract more inland shipping companies to follow suit, accelerating the adoption of new energy vessels across the industry and advancing the green transformation of inland shipping from “pilot exploration” to “full-scale promotion.”
### The Ripple Effect of Jining Port and Shipping Group’s “First Order”
As a state-owned holding enterprise under Jining City, Jining Port and Shipping Group’s successful practice in the field of new energy vessels has multiple driving effects on local economic development.
The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, as a vital artery of China’s inland waterway shipping, holds exemplary significance for the green development of the nation’s inland shipping. After the four LNG dual-purpose vessels are put into operation, they will establish a green shipping demonstration route along the Shandong section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, providing other shipowners and shipping companies with a tangible example of green shipping practices.
With more new energy vessels operating on the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the ecological environment along the canal will gradually improve, enhancing its ecological value. At the same time, the promotion of new energy vessels can optimize the shipping structure of the canal, improve transportation efficiency, further leverage the canal’s role in regional economic connectivity and logistics, and drive coordinated economic development along its route.
From a national perspective, Jining Port and Shipping Group’s receipt of the first inland new energy vessel subsidy sets a benchmark for the country’s inland shipping industry. It clearly demonstrates that in the process of green transformation, enterprises can achieve breakthroughs by seizing policy opportunities, actively exploring innovation, and daring to practice.
The 13.3 million yuan subsidy secured by Jining Port and Shipping Group is like a spark that ignites the prairie fire of a green revolution in inland shipping. From policy promotion to technological innovation, from project implementation to industry transformation, we see the firm strides and broad prospects of the green transition in inland shipping.
In the journey ahead, with the joint efforts of all stakeholders, inland shipping will undoubtedly break free from the constraints of traditional models and sail toward a new future of green, intelligent, and efficient development, contributing significantly to China’s sustainable economic and social development.
The landing of the first subsidy is just the beginning. Like a stone cast into water, the 13.3 million yuan subsidy has sent ripples that are transforming the entire ecosystem of inland shipping. When more enterprises weigh the “environmental account” against the “economic account,” green shipping can truly shift from policy-driven to market-driven, injecting green momentum into China’s vision of becoming a transportation powerhouse.
Under the “dual carbon” goals, it is believed that traditional energy cities can fully occupy new tracks through proactive transformation. As more enterprises move from观望 (wait-and-see) to active布局 (planning), green shipping will ultimately achieve the leap from policy-driven to market-driven.
### The “Two New” Policy Safeguards Green Shipping
In recent years, with the proposal of the “dual carbon” goals, various industries in China have embarked on the path of green transformation. The inland shipping industry, due to its critical role in the logistics and transportation system and the environmental pollution caused by traditional shipping models, has become a key area for green transformation.
Timely policy support has provided strong backing for this transformation. In July 2024, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance issued the “Several Measures to Strengthen Support for Large-Scale Equipment Renewal and Consumer Goods Replacement,” which explicitly stated that in the transportation sector, subsidies of 1,000–2,200 yuan per gross ton would be provided for newly built new energy and clean energy vessels, depending on the vessel type.
The introduction of this policy aims to accelerate the green upgrade of the inland shipping industry through financial leverage, reducing carbon emissions and pollutant emissions, and helping China’s transportation sector achieve its carbon peak and neutrality goals as early as possible.
Specifically, the “Two New” policy focuses on new energy and clean energy vessels, offering substantial subsidies for newly built vessels that meet the standards. The subsidy criteria comprehensively consider factors such as vessel tonnage, energy type, and technological advancement, encouraging enterprises to adopt more environmentally friendly and efficient vessel technologies.
Notably, in addition to national policies, local governments have also responded actively by introducing a series of supporting measures. To promote the high-quality development of inland shipping, Shandong Province has implemented free lock passage for container vessels on the Shandong section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Starting April 1, 2025, new energy vessels passing through the locks on this section will enjoy free passage, further reducing their operational costs.
The coordinated efforts of national and local policies have created a powerful synergy, fostering a favorable policy environment for the green transformation of inland shipping.
