Shanghai, Oct. 20 (Xie Mengyuan) The inaugural ceremony for the world’s first methanol-electric dual-use bulk container ship, the “Yuan Chun 001,” was held at the Luodong Container Terminal of Shanghai Port on the 20th. At the ceremony, Shanghai International Port Group and Geely Holding Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement on green shipping. The two parties will join hands to promote the application of methanol-electric technology in the fields of green shipping and green ports, injecting new momentum into the green transformation of inland waterway shipping.
According to reports, the “Yuan Chun 001” is a dual-use bulk container inland river vessel that integrates liquid new energy power and intelligent control technology. It has an overall length of 64.9 meters, a width of 12.6 meters, a depth of 3.5 meters, a deadweight tonnage of 1500 tons, and a maximum capacity of 64 standard containers. The ship’s power system is advanced, equipped with two 280-kilowatt methanol generator sets and two 258-kilowatt-hour lithium battery packs. These are connected to the grid through DC bus variable frequency electric control equipment to drive two 150-kilowatt propulsion motors. Utilizing DC grid-connected technology and multi-condition design, the ship achieves efficient coordination between methanol clean energy and lithium battery energy storage, integrating advantages such as high efficiency, environmental protection, energy saving, and comfort.
The inaugural ceremony for the world’s first methanol-electric dual-use bulk container ship, the “Yuan Chun 001,” was held at the Luodong Container Terminal of Shanghai Port on the 20th. The picture shows the methanol ship-specific equipment displayed at the ceremony. Photo by Xie Mengyuan
The green transformation of the shipping industry has become a global consensus. On the 19th, at the North Bund International Shipping Forum held in Shanghai, the “International Green Shipping Corridor Cooperation Initiative” was released, further promoting the formation of a new pattern for green shipping development. According to data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the shipping industry’s annual carbon dioxide emissions are about 1 billion tons, accounting for 3% of global total emissions, making it imperative to promote the upgrade of the energy structure.
As an ideal green ship fuel, methanol is not only a coal-based clean fuel but can also be produced on a large scale through hydrogen production from wind and solar power coupled with carbon dioxide, becoming a high-quality carrier for wind and solar power and a liquid hydrogen-based fuel.
Shanghai is actively planning in the field of green shipping transformation. The “Shanghai Work Plan for Promoting the Green Transformation of International Shipping Fuels” clearly states that by focusing on building an international shipping green fuel bunkering port, a green fuel application system will be constructed, and the advantages of international shipping green fuel application will be gradually extended to inland waterway shipping.
As the world’s top container port for 15 consecutive years, Shanghai Port is taking the lead in promoting the construction of a green methanol industry chain for large container ships, while actively exploring the pilot application of methanol in inland waterway shipping. This cooperation between Shanghai International Port Group and Geely Holding Group will integrate the industrial chain resources and advantages of both parties, focusing on application scenarios such as non-road mobile machinery in port areas, internal transport vehicles, and barges, to deepen cooperation in the fields of green shipping, green ports, and intelligent operations.
Wang Zhaoxing, Senior Vice President of Geely Holding Group, stated that this cooperation will accelerate the transformation of energy applications through technological innovation and deep industrial synergy, gradually reduce dependence on traditional fossil fuels, build a green and sustainable development model for liquid new energy, and contribute “Chinese Wisdom” and “Chinese Solutions” to the global green transformation.
It is worth noting that on the day of the inaugural ceremony, Geely Holding Group also showcased some methanol-electric heavy-duty truck products on site, further demonstrating its technology and layout in the new energy field.
The commercial operation of the “Yuan Chun 001” and the achievement of the strategic cooperation between the two parties mark a major breakthrough for China in the application of new energy in inland waterway shipping, providing a new path for the green transformation of the global shipping industry. (End)
