On June 18th, Zhijiang Shengmao Shipyard ignited and started construction of the first 130 meter pure methanol powered Chuanjiang standard dry bulk carrier built by Changhang Freight Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Yangtze River Shipping Group. This marks another milestone breakthrough for Changhang Freight in leading the construction of the first large-scale operating clean fleet on the Yangtze River.

This is one of the two 130 meter new energy bulk carriers ordered by Changhang Freight at Shengmao Shipbuilding in February this year.   On this basis, Changhang Freight continues to take the lead in the pilot demonstration work of clean energy power for other ships, and strives to promote the green and high-quality development of Yangtze River shipping.

The 130 meter methanol powered Chuanjiang standard dry bulk carrier construction project is a high-tech power ship demonstration research project of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and a medium speed engine application project for 210mm cylinder diameter methanol fuel ships of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Changhang Freight actively undertakes the research on the actual ship application of this project. The 130 meter methanol powered Chuanjiang standard dry bulk carrier adopts the first domestic methanol cylinder direct injection marine methanol fuel medium speed engine, which is the first time that the Yangtze River shipping uses methanol as fuel for a power ship, and can achieve an advanced level of 95% methanol substitution rate. Compared with traditional diesel powered ships, it can reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 60% and sulfur oxide emissions by up to 99%. The ship will also verify the corresponding capabilities of methanol powered ships in the inland rapids section, and it is expected to achieve a fuel replacement rate of 90% in the rapids section.

It is understood that Changhang Freight Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of China Merchants Group and a subsidiary of China Yangtze River Shipping Group Co., Ltd. The company has injected the core business, excellent assets, and professional workforce of Changhang Group's coastal and Yangtze River dry bulk transportation, inheriting the rich experience accumulated by Changhang Group's century long dry bulk transportation services, a strong and stable customer base, and a well-known brand in the industry.

The company is the largest and strongest comprehensive transportation provider in China, with a core focus on river sea intermodal transportation and Yangtze River dry bulk cargo business. It mainly engages in the transportation of ordinary cargo ships, freight forwarding, ship agency, cargo trade, and provides shipping related services. It has built a network of north-south coastal, sea to river, river sea intermodal transportation, river sea direct transportation, Yangtze River trunk and tributary routes, and land transportation in China. In 2023, the annual dry bulk cargo business volume of Changhang Freight exceeded 150 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 19%.

Last September, Changhang Freight received the first pure LNG powered 130 meter standard ship type bulk carrier "Changhang Freight 002" built by Shengmao Shipyard in the Yangtze River. The ship adopts the first high-power pure LNG gas engine in China, integrating multiple latest scientific research achievements such as linear optimization structure, lightweighting, and efficient propulsion. It is equipped with intelligent technologies such as intelligent navigation assistance, intelligent energy consumption, and ship shore integration, further increasing the practical application of green intelligent technologies, achieving a LNG fuel replacement rate of 97%. Compared with similar ships, its energy consumption cost is significantly reduced, with a reduction of about 22%, achieving breakthroughs and engineering demonstration applications of key technologies such as green, low-carbon, and intelligent inland ships.