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Green Shipping, Beautiful Bay Area—Foshan City’s LNG‑Powered Retrofit Vessels Officially Delivered in a Mass Handover Ceremony

Release Date:

2022-09-06

“The first batch of LNG‑powered converted vessels in Foshan has been delivered and set sail!” At around 4:00 p.m. on September 2, the sound of ship’s horns echoed along the riverbank as five LNG‑powered converted vessels, including the “Ruichi,” were collectively handed over to Foshan. This milestone marks a significant phase in the demonstration project for green development in inland waterway transport, holds profound significance for Foshan’s efforts to accelerate the transition to green shipping, and ushers the city into a new era of environmentally friendly navigation.

On September 2, the first batch of LNG‑powered retrofitted vessels in Foshan was officially handed over in a centralized ceremony. Image source: Foshan Daily.

The five vessels delivered in this batch are all standard‑type general cargo ships operating on the Xijiang–Jiangjiang waterway, and were completed through a retrofit project coordinated by Suzhou Zhibang Energy Equipment Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Suzhou Zhibang”) as the general contractor. Among them, the first retrofitted vessel, “Rui Chi,” successfully conducted its sea trial on June 30, becoming one of the first ships in Guangdong Province to undergo an LNG‑fuel conversion for inland navigation, and also the first inland vessel in Foshan City to complete such a retrofit. “Rui Chi” has an overall length of 54.96 meters and a full‑load capacity of approximately 1,800 tons.

Since the project’s launch, all parties involved have overcome challenges posed by the pandemic, flooding, typhoons, and other factors, rigorously managing quality and efficiency to ensure a high‑quality handover.

At the delivery ceremony, a sea trial was also conducted for the LNG‑powered converted vessel “Lianghui 218.”

On-site sea trials for the LNG‑powered retrofit of the vessel “Lianghui 218.” Image source: Foshan Daily.

The LNG retrofit project for vessels involves replacing the original diesel propulsion system with an engine that runs on the clean energy source LNG, along with the installation of ancillary equipment such as LNG storage tanks, a fuel supply system, a control system, and a safety‑related system. Following the retrofit, the vessel will operate exclusively on LNG. Compared with diesel‑powered ships, LNG offers distinct advantages, including lower carbon emissions, reduced operating costs, and enhanced safety.

The first batch of LNG‑powered converted vessels in Foshan are moored along the riverbank. Photo source: Foshan Daily.

Since the beginning of this year, Foshan City has completed the conversion of six LNG‑powered vessels, making it the city with the largest number of such converted ships in operation across the province. An additional 14 conversions are currently progressing according to schedule. By early 2023, Foshan is expected to have completed the retrofitting of 20 LNG‑powered vessels, establishing a preliminary scale of LNG‑propelled shipping and generating a demonstrative effect, thereby leveraging green, low‑carbon solutions to drive high‑quality development in inland waterway transport.

Our company will continue to provide strong support for the LNG marine‑vessel segment in the Greater Bay Area, working in close coordination with provincial and municipal transportation authorities to deliver a steady stream of “green momentum” for our business growth.