News I iCET Conducts Field Study in Yichang to Examine Low-Carbon Transition in Yangtze River Inland Shipping
On August 16, 2024, iCET organized a research delegation to Yichang for an on-site field study, inviting several guests from the CCTP Salon and event co-organizers to jointly explore progress in low-carbon transportation. This visit followed the 28th session of the China Clean Transportation Partnership (CCTP) themed “Electrifying the Yangtze River.”
The delegation then visited the “Three Gorges 1,” the world’s largest all-electric cruise ship by battery capacity. Guided by the ship’s captain and engineering staff, the team toured key onboard facilities, including the bridge, battery compartment, integrated control room, and steering-propulsion chamber.
Inside the battery compartment, engineers provided detailed explanations of the vessel’s power usage, battery capacity, safety and risk-control measures, and its fire-prevention system. In the integrated control room, the captain demonstrated how dynamic monitoring and early-warning systems support emergency response under unexpected conditions, and further explained the operating principles, main functions, and maintenance procedures of the steering-propulsion system.
Throughout the visit, the research team engaged in active discussions with the ship’s leadership and technical staff, raising a series of professional questions and exchanging insights on the challenges and opportunities of low-carbon inland waterway transport.The field study offered participants a valuable opportunity to gain firsthand insights into the low-carbon transition underway in the Yangtze River inland shipping sector. Participants agreed that the on-site visit provided a more intuitive understanding of the region’s low-carbon development efforts and offered significant inspiration for their future work in related areas. They expressed appreciation for the thoughtful organization of the program and gave highly positive feedback on the overall experience. Many participants also conveyed their hope for more opportunities to join similar activities in the future, in order to continue advancing the green transformation of inland waterway shipping along the Yangtze River.