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World's most powerful electric cruise ship on maiden voyage in China

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World's most powerful electric cruise ship on maiden voyage in China
10:12, 30-Mar-2022

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The Yangtze River-Three Gorges Dam 1 cruise ship sets off its maiden voyage in Hubei, China, March 29, 2022. /CFP

The "Yangtze River-Three Gorges Dam 1" cruise ship, fully powered by electric batteries with a capacity of 1,300 passengers, set off on its maiden voyage on Tuesday in Yichang City in central China's Hubei Province.

According to the China Three Gorges Cooperation, the 100-meter-long ship has 15 individual battery packs with a total capacity of 7,500 kilowatt-hour (kWh), the largest in a cruise ship, which roughly equals to that of more than 100 electric cars.

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The battery packs of the Yangtze River-Three Gorges Dam 1 cruise ship, March 28, 2022. /CFP

The ship can sail 100 kilometers at a speed of 16 km per hour.

A charger was also built at the ship's home port, which can fully charge the ship's battery in six hours with green electricity from a hydropower plant, according to Zhang Yu, a manager at the Three Gorges Electric Energy Co. Ltd., a Wuhan-based company that managed the building of the ship.

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With green energy, the ship can save 530 tonnes of fuel annually, leading to a reduction in harmful gas of more than 1,600 tonnes every year.

The electric engine of the ship generates less vibration and noise, providing a better experience for the passengers.

 

'World's largest electric cruise ship' makes maiden voyage in China​

WION Web Team
Beijing Published: Mar 30, 2022, 11:29 PM(IST)

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According to Chinese officials, the world's largest electric cruise ship Yangtze River Three Gorges 1 made its maiden voyage in Yichang, Hubei on Tuesday.

China's state-run Global Times had reported earlier that the ship has the largest battery capacity and is powered by a 7500 KWH marine power battery which is equivalent to the battery capacity of over a hundred electric vehicles.


The ship had conducted trials in January and had returned to its home port in Yichang in central China's Hubei province. The ship which achieved "zero emissions" is powered by clean hydropower generated by the Three Gorges Dam, the Chinese daily reported as the country tries to tap into clean energy and green transportation.

It is reportedly being used as a sightseeing tour extravaganza in the Yangtze River. It is 100 metres long and over 16 meters wide and can carry 1,300 passengers.

The massive cruise liner has been manufactured by the Yangtze power company under China Three Gorges Corporation and the Hubei Yichang transportation group and supported by the Chinese government.

The ship can reportedly travel 100 kilometres on a single charge. It has reportedly been built with an investment of $23.5 million and causes zero pollution while ensuring "low noise and low vibration" compared to diesel engines.

The ship has an automatic control system and intelligent power management system as China attempts to build a "low-carbon future" amid high pollution levels.

 

‘World’s largest electric cruise ship’ makes maiden voyage in China with a whopping 7,500 kWh in battery power


- Mar. 31st 2022 9:36 am P

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In what is being dubbed the “world’s largest electric cruise ship,” the Yangtze River Three Gorges 1 recently completed its maiden voyage out of its home port in Yichang, central China’s Hubei Province. The 100 meter long, zero-emissions ship can haul up to 1,300 passengers at a time and is powered by batteries totaling 7,500 kWh, equivalent to over 100 EVs.

The Yangtze River Three Gorges 1 is a 100% electric cruise ship developed and built in China to transport passengers on sightseeing tours on the Yangtze River.

The ship was developed by China Yangtze Power, a subsidiary of China Three Gorges Corp, and Hubei Three Gorges Tourism Group to the tune of 150 million yuan ($23.66 million).

The manufacturers tout the electric cruise ship as the first to achieve “true zero emissions” as it is charged using clean hydropower generated by the Three Gorges Dam in its home port.

This past January, the electric cruise ship completed its first trial voyage, safely returning home to Yichang. At that point, the Yangtze River Three Gorges 1 was on schedule to be furnished and properly fitted for commercial operation.

This week, the electric cruise ship made its maiden voyage in China as the beginning of Three Gorges Corporation’s planned expansion of the electric marine vehicle market.

People’s Daily Online covered news of the ship’s maiden voyage out of China this week, sharing some specs of the zero-emission vessel. The ship measures 100 meters (328 feet) long and 16.3 meters (~54 feet) wide and can accommodate 1,300 passengers looking to see the sights along the Yangtze River… but not too far from Yichang.

The electric cruise ship is equipped with 7,500 kWh of battery capacity, one of the largest, if not thelargest battery packs within an electric vehicle in the world. However, even such tremendous capacity cannot deliver the necessary range for the large vessel to travel long distances on water.

The ship’s current range is about 100 km (62 miles) on a charge. Plenty of range for sightseeing up and down the river, but certainly not enough to compete with vacation cruise lines at this point. That being said, that 100 km range is equivalent to 530 metric tons of fuel, accounting for 1,660 less tons of toxic emissions each year.

Lei Mingshan, chairman of China Three Gorges Corp, stated that the electric cruise ship is a milestone in promoting green transportation, protection of the Yangtze River, and a preview of a low-carbon future in marine travel.

Mingshan also stated the corporation sees the maiden voyage of the Yangtze River Three Gorges 1 as a starting point for increasing investment in the zero-carbon industry within the Yangtze River basin. Check out the all-electric cruise ship setting sail below:

 
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