Green development of inland ships new energy power will become the mainstream

Actively develop LNG-powered ships

The Opinions propose to cultivate a number of influential green intelligent inland waterway ship design, construction, supporting and operation enterprises, create a number of standardized and serialized ship types that meet the needs of different scenarios, form replicable and popularizable experience, and initially build a benign and sustainable industrial ecology. By 2030, the green and intelligent technology of inland ships will be fully promoted and applied, the supporting infrastructure, operation management, business model and other industrial ecology will be improved, standardized and serialized green and intelligent ship types will be built in batches, the industrial chain and supply chain level will be greatly improved, and a modern industrial system for inland ships will be initially established.

"Opinions" pointed out that priority is given to the development of green power technology, LNG-powered ships, battery-powered ships, methanol, hydrogen and other power ships will become the next key development of the technical route.

Accelerate the iterative upgrading of LNG engines for inland river ships, improve the product pedigree of pure natural gas Marine engines, develop gas-electric hybrid technology, and strengthen the control of methane escape and nitrogen oxide emissions. Strengthen the integration and optimization design of LNG power system, and focus on promoting the application of LNG power technology in the coastal, Yangtze River trunk, Xijiang trunk, Beijing-Hangzhou Canal and other medium and long distance cargo ships with more than 2,000 DWT and engineering ships.

We will accelerate the development of battery-powered ships. Strengthen the integration and optimization of Marine power batteries, battery management systems and other technologies, promote technology research on energy-efficient motors, power system networking, and ship charging and replacing, improve the capacity and safety performance of Marine battery powertrain, and focus on promoting the application of pure battery power technology in short-haul inland cargo ships, riverside cruise ships and ships in the Kuhu District. Taking cargo ship as a pilot, the research and application of standardized box-type power change technology are carried out.

Promote the application of methanol, hydrogen and other power technologies. Accelerate the research and development of Marine methanol engines, reduce the emission of unconventional pollutants such as formaldehyde, improve the power range and fuel conversion efficiency of Marine methanol fuel cells, and promote the application of methanol power technology in cargo ships. Strengthen the research and development of Marine hydrogen fuel cell power system, hydrogen storage system, refueling system and other technical equipment, explore the application of hydrogen fuel cell power technology in passenger ships, encourage the use of renewable energy such as solar energy electrolysis water generated green hydrogen.

According to the latest data of the China Shipbuilding Industry Association, from January to August this year, among the new shipbuilding orders in the world, China's liquefied natural gas carriers accounted for nearly 30% of the global market share, reaching 27.2%.

China Sea Oil and Gas Group ship transportation expert Pan Heshun said that in the first half of this year, Jiangnan Shipbuilding and Big Boat Group respectively won international orders, and the new shipbuilding negotiations of Yangtze River shipping industry and merchants industry also made certain progress, forming a new situation of "multi-point flowering", indicating that China's liquefied natural gas carrier construction strength has been greatly improved.

Promote the transformation and upgrading of ship manufacturing

The "Opinions" proposed to speed up the adjustment of industrial structure, encourage the merger and reorganization of inland ship manufacturing enterprises and professional integration, and increase the effective supply of high-quality production capacity. Optimize the layout of inland ship manufacturing industry, promote industrial transfer through cross-regional cooperation, and improve the quality of inland ship manufacturing in underdeveloped areas. Foster a number of inland ship manufacturing backbone enterprises, deepen the integration of inland ship design and construction, accelerate the deep integration of information technology and ship manufacturing technology, explore the mass customized procurement mode of major raw materials such as steel, and vigorously promote standardized, intensive, green and intelligent production.

Several companies have made successful transitions. China State Shipbuilding International has actively adjusted its product mix and developed a variety of green products such as methanol dual-fuel powered ships, LNG dual-fuel powered ships and offshore wind power related products. In 2021, the number of orders for clean energy ship products and high value-added products of Guangsheng International increased by three times year-on-year, and the revenue of green products increased by 70% year-on-year, exceeding 6 billion yuan.

In the first half of 2022, new products on ships launched by Ofunao Group accounted for 50%, an increase of 67% year-on-year. Ofunao Group continues to develop energy-saving and environmentally friendly "green ships", and has been at the forefront of the world in the application of new green technology ships such as sail propulsion and LNG dual fuel.

The "Opinions" also proposed to build a new industrial chain of green intelligent ships. Encourage leading enterprises as the main body, gather research and development, design, construction, supporting, operation and other industrial chain advantages of the upstream and downstream resources, the formation of industrial alliances, to create a collaborative innovation platform, and promote the development of green intelligent common technology of inland vessels and the transformation and application of results. Build an inland green intelligent ship industry cluster, focus on the inland ship assembly and construction base, and promote the development of upstream and downstream supporting industries such as Marine power batteries, motors, box power supplies, battery management systems, charging and replacing equipment. Foster advantageous enterprises in the supporting industry chain of ships, promote the expansion and strengthening of key systems and equipment enterprises such as engines, fuel storage and transportation, and intelligent management, and form a group of specialized and special "small giant" enterprises.

Guo Dacheng, president of the China Shipbuilding Industry Association, said at the annual meeting of the association not long ago that ship assembly enterprises should attach great importance to the stability of their own supply chains, pay attention to cultivating local supply chains, and contribute to creating a safe and stable industrial chain supply chain.

Lei Fanpei, chairman of the Party of China Shipbuilding Group, said that it is necessary to take major scientific and technological projects as the starting point, aim at the direction of green, low-carbon and intelligent cutting-edge technologies, and radiate the coordinated development of the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain. Adhere to the key core technology research as a strategic support for building a shipbuilding country, and speed up the shipbuilding industry chain and supply chain weaknesses. At the same time, we will continue to improve the supply quality of scientific and technological innovation, and promote the transformation and upgrading of ship and sea equipment.

Establish and improve the shipbuilding industry ecology

In the Opinions, it is proposed to improve the supporting facilities for the operation of green intelligent ships. We will speed up the construction of supporting infrastructure, support the construction of new energy and clean energy supply facilities such as filling and charging (replacement) electricity, improve the construction approval process and acceptance criteria system, and build a convenient and complete network of facilities.

Create a new model of benefit sharing, support cargo owners, ports, energy companies, financial institutions, power batteries and other key supporting enterprises to deeply participate in the development of the inland green smart ship industry, stabilize transportation demand and energy supply, reduce construction and operation costs, and improve the quality and efficiency of operations.

Encourage experimentation first. We will further implement major regional strategies such as the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region, the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. We will encourage the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Shandong, Hubei, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hebei's Xiongan New Area to take the lead, pool all kinds of social resources, increase the number of green and smart ships, and optimize the stock of traditional oil-powered ships. Strengthen the supervision of the operation of new energy and clean energy inland waterway vessels, improve the overall quality level and energy efficiency level of inland waterway vessels, significantly reduce pollution emissions of inland waterway vessels, and form a new model of green intelligent inland waterway vessel operation and development that can be replicated, promoted and sustainable.

We will strengthen policy support. We will use the existing funding channels of the central government to support the research and development and application of green smart ships and their industrialization and large-scale development, optimize and improve insurance compensation policies, and accelerate the promotion and application of the first green smart ships (sets). Establish an evaluation mechanism, promote implementation in coordination, strengthen the linkage between departments, local governments, and enterprises, and form policy synergy.