On January 21st, China’s first batch of inland river new energy methanol single-power vessels kicked off construction. This project is expected to build 50 vessels for water transportation on the Xijiang River in Zhaoqing. CIMC Enric, a global leader in key clean energy equipment and engineering services, through its subsidiary CIMC Bluewater Technology Development (Guangdong) Co., Ltd.(CIMC Bluewater), will provide methanol power systems for these orders, contributing to the green energy transition of inland waterway transportation in China.
The Xijiang River is a major waterway in Guangdong Province, flowing from west to east through the entire territory of Zhaoqing. It is also one of the main waterways for water transportation in Guangdong Province. In August 2024, following the joint release of the “Implementation Rules for the Scrapping and Renewal Subsidy of Old Operational Ships in Transportation” (hereinafter referred to as the “Rules”) by the Ministry of Transport and the National Development and Reform Commission, the renovation and new construction orders for clean energy-powered ships began to increase. In addition to the commonly used LNG (liquefied natural gas) power, methanol is also one of the alternative energy choices.
As early as 2021, CIMC Enric established a task force for converting ships on the Xijiang River from oil to gas and reached a strategic cooperation agreement with the Guangdong provincial government to jointly carry out the “Gasification of Xijiang” project with leading enterprises. CIMC Enric has already completed the modification and delivery of several LNG new energy-powered vessels on the Xijiang River route. Following the release of the “Rules,” government subsidies for clean energy-powered vessels have increased significantly. According to industry insiders, the subsidy amount can cover more than 80% of the modification or new construction costs, greatly stimulating the enthusiasm of shipowners for modifications or new constructions.
The power vessels that commenced construction this time are also the first batch of methanol single-fuel vessels for inland river shipping in China, which holds significant importance for the domestic shipping industry. Green methanol is globally recognized as a new clean renewable energy source, standing out for its safety, efficiency, clean emissions, and renewability. Previously, a report titled “Methanol and Shipping” published by clean energy financial services provider Longspur Research compared different marine fuels in terms of emission reduction capabilities, energy density, cost, and ease of use. Due to its mature technology, low difficulty and cost of infrastructure modification, safety, refueling convenience, and low cost, methanol was comprehensively determined to be one of the best choices for green marine fuel in the shipping industry.
The methanol power system supplied by CIMC Enric ensures the safety and reliability of the system by virtue of its qualification as a holder of China Classification Society (CCS) product certificate. The system adopts an innovative dual-side independent supply design, which not only enhances operational flexibility but also increases system redundancy. This ensures that one side can still operate normally during maintenance of the other side, without affecting the vessel’s operations. The characteristic of stable output pressure makes the fuel supply more uniform and smooth, effectively ensuring engine performance and efficiency. The integrated Fuel Vapor Treatment (FVT) function can handle fuel vapor emissions, reducing environmental impact while improving energy utilization efficiency.
The system adopts a compact and flexible layout design without changing the cabin structure, which is especially suitable for smaller vessels with limited space, saving retrofitting time and cost. Overall, this methanol supply system provides shipowners with an efficient, environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution, making it an ideal choice for green inland waterway shipping.
Additionally, this batch of Xijiang methanol single-fuel vessels will be equipped with CIMC Enric’s Ship Internet technology. This technology integrates clean energy-powered vessels with on-water bunkering stations and bunkering barges, facilitating data sharing across the upstream and downstream segments of the clean energy industry chain. It enables remote real-time monitoring of various operational data via mobile phones, and manages vessel fuel bunkering plans, inventory in and out, and scheduling.
In the field of clean energy business for inland river shipping in China, CIMC Enric has established a presence in key waterways such as the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the Yangtze River, the Xijiang River, and the Jiujiang River. It supplies core equipment such as LNG bunkering, tank replacement, LNG/methanol fuel power systems, and fuel tanks for inland vessels, as well as the conversion and construction of related new energy-powered inland vessels. In addition to the order for the Xijiang vessel power system this time, the company also secured an order in January 2025 in Anhui Province for the design and power package of five multi-purpose inland LNG energy vessels. This batch of vessels also marks the first new energy vessels to commence construction in Anhui Province.