November 1, 2017 | China, Zixing

China’s first LNG (liquefied natural gas) fuel-powered passenger shipJinlong Fang is now sailing out of Zixing City on East River and Dongjiang Lake in Hunan Province. It has been heralded as a prelude to passengers vessels on China’s myriad inland waterways embracing this cleaner fuel.

Jinlong Fang is 24.8 meters long, 7 meters wide and designed for cruising at 20 kilometers per hour. It is approved for 90 passengers and for travel on the East (Dongjiang) River which flows through one of China’s top rated (5A) tourist sightseeing areas.

The vessel will now undergo testing and ‘debugging’. It’s operational data will used to inform and promote liquefied natural gas as a clean energy fuel for inland waterways.

The State Maritime Safety Administration agreed to the East River pilot as a project to promote clean energy in 2015. Known as “Hunan Dongjiang Lake ship application LNG overall implementation plan”, the project is being overseen by the Ministry of Transport and forms part of Zixing’s 13th Five Year Plan. Zixing will immediately commence construction of an LNG refueling station and other supporting facilities on Dongjiang Lake. Over the next two years, it is planned to build 24 90-seat passenger vessels and six 120-seat vessels, all with natural gas engines.

Dongjiang Lake is a major source of drinking water and is has been designated for high-level protection. Accordingly, Zixing embraced the opportunity provided by LNG to significantly reduce water-transport related emissions.

中国首艘LNG（液化天然气）燃料动力客船“金龙舫”正式在湖南省资兴的东江湖首航。

这将预示着新能源客船将在日后中国内河航运上开始发展。

“金龙舫”长24.9米，宽7米，设计巡航速度20公里每小时。核定载客90人，主要用于在东江湖这个横贯中国顶级5A景区的湖泊进行游览观光使用。目前船舶正在进行调试和排查故障。此测试数据将会用于为LNG作为情节燃料在内河航运提供重要依据。国家海事局已经在2015年已经同意湘江上可以发展清洁能源船舶。作为湖南东江湖泊船舶LNG整体发展规划，此项目已经作为交通部资兴13年发展计划的一部分。

资兴已经在东江湖附近着手开始建设LNG加气站以及其他支援设备，在随后的两年内，此项目计划建设24艘90座的客船以及6艘120座的客船，都将使用天然气发动机。

东江湖是一座提供淡水资源的重要湖泊，并且受到高度保护。因此，资兴市将通过LNG能源着力优化提高水运相关的环境保护工作。