An electric battery-powered cruise ship will make its debut on Shanghai’s Huangpu River later this year, according to official sources.

According to Tian Ye, who is in charge of the battery-powered system, the 150-seater vessel produces no harmful emissions, no noise and no pollution. The system was independently researched and developed by the China State Shipbuilding Corp’s Shanghai Marine Equipment Research Institute.

The Shanghai Jiushi vessel was handed over to the operator in early August and is currently undergoing technical equipment and licensing before being put into service later this year.

There are more than 50 excursion boats travelling on the Huangpu River in Shanghai, most of which run on traditional fuels. If all of them run on new energy sources, carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by thousands or even tens of thousands of tonnes a year, according to a China Ship News report.

Tian Ye said projects like Shanghai Jiushi are in line with the country’s goals to reduce and neutralise carbon dioxide emissions, as well as Shanghai’s goals to develop its waterfront.

Under city regulations that came into effect last year, areas along the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek are to be transformed into world-class waterfronts with fully open, beautiful landscapes and eco-friendly public spaces.

The ship’s new energy system is equipped with a high-performance “brain” that integrates energy management, motion control, alert control and remote monitoring functions to achieve a high degree of automation, explained Tian Ye.

The new vessel is 41.51 metres long and 10.9 metres wide, as reported by China Daily, a partner of TV BRICS.

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