Recently, Anhui’s first LNG-powered vessel adopting the “tank swap mode,” the “Yuanshun Lüdong 1,” was officially launched at the Xinfeiyang Ship Repair and Building Co., Ltd. within the Guichi Shipbuilding Industrial Base. This marks another new breakthrough for Guichi District in the field of new energy vessel construction.
The “Yuanshun Lüdong 1” is a pure LNG-powered propulsion bulk carrier, with a total length of 119.8 meters, a beam of 19.4 meters, a depth of 8 meters, and a designed maximum deadweight tonnage of 11,050 tons. The vessel utilizes the tank swap mode and is equipped with 2 sets of 40-foot LNG tank containers and gas supply systems jointly developed by CIMC Blue Water and Nantong CIMC Energy, subsidiaries of CIMC ENRIC. This configuration can power the vessel’s main propulsion engine and gas-fired generators for approximately 65 hours, enabling a range of over 1,100 kilometers.
Traditional LNG-powered vessels typically use fixed storage tanks for refueling, which often involves issues such as long refueling times, limited refueling stations, and fuel boil-off. In contrast, the tank swap mode employs a standardized, modular tank container design, enabling rapid replenishment through a “complete tank swap.” When the vessel requires energy replenishment, the tank can be directly swapped using shore cranes at ordinary cargo terminals, with a single swap taking only 15-30 minutes. This not only enhances operational efficiency but also effectively reduces the risk of fuel leakage and evaporation losses, providing a convenient experience similar to the “battery swap” model for new energy vehicles.
Furthermore, the tank swap mode also excels in safety and environmental protection. The LNG tank containers used apply high-vacuum multi-layer insulation technology, which effectively reduces fuel evaporation losses. The gas supply system配套 to the “Yuanshun Lüdong 1” tank containers has passed the specification certification of the China Classification Society (CCS). Leveraging intelligent safety control, it can monitor over 30 key data points in real-time, such as tank pressure, temperature, and liquid level. In case of any abnormality, it automatically initiates interlock protection to ensure the safe operation of the vessel. Using LNG as fuel, compared to traditional marine oils, can significantly reduce emissions of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, playing a positive role in protecting the ecological environment of the Yangtze River Basin.
The head of the Guichi Shipbuilding Industrial Base stated that against the backdrop of the持续推进 “Dual Carbon” goals and the深入 implementation of the “Gasification of the Yangtze” strategy, the successful launch of the “Yuanshun Lüdong 1” provides a replicable and promotable practical case for the green transformation of inland waterway shipping. Its “tank swap mode” can effectively address pain points such as the long construction cycles and limited coverage of refueling stations, offering a new path for promoting clean energy vessels.
Looking ahead, the Guichi Shipbuilding Industrial Base will closely seize the opportunities presented by national strategies, continue to deepen its efforts in the field of green and intelligent shipbuilding, accelerate the research, development, and manufacturing of clean power vessel types like LNG, continue to advance in modular vessel design and intelligent construction, and actively build a green ship industry chain encompassing R&D design, core supporting industries, and inspection and testing. The aim is to create a high-end shipbuilding cluster with regional influence and contribute to the accelerated green and low-carbon transformation of shipping on the Yangtze River.
It is understood that the Guichi Shipbuilding Industrial Base is one of the three major shipbuilding industrial bases along the river in Anhui Province. It has the highest concentration of shipbuilding enterprises, utilizes the longest contiguous stretch of Yangtze River shoreline, and covers the largest area among them. It is the largest ship repair and building agglomeration area upstream of Nanjing. Since its establishment in 2009, it has attracted 8 ship repair and building enterprises to set up operations.
In 2024, the Guichi Shipbuilding Industrial Base has completed 36 vessel orders, with a completed shipbuilding output of 414,800 deadweight tons and a full-caliber statistical output value of 1.45 billion yuan. In the next step, the Guichi Shipbuilding Industrial Base will continue to focus on the goal of building an “International Green Offshore Industry Agglomeration Zone,” promoting the continuous transformation of the shipbuilding industry towards high-end, digital, green, and intelligent development, and contributing more efforts to advancing the development of green shipping.
