Recently, Nantong CIMC SinoPacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (referred to as CIMC SinoPacific), a subsidiary of CIMC Enric, entered into a contract with CSC Cargo Co., Ltd. (referred to as CSC Cargo) in Shanghai for building four 12,500-ton clean energy river-sea direct bulk carriers.

The first ship in this project will be the first to use the LNG tank-to-tank exchange solution developed by CIMC Enric, which has been approved by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as a pilot project. This signifies a breakthrough in CIMC's efforts to promote the "Powering Yangtze River by LNG" and actively support the green and low-carbon development of the shipping industry.

The total contract amount for the four 12,500-ton clean energy river-sea direct bulk carriers exceeds RMB250 million. These vessels will be equipped with dual-fuel engine technology, alternating current shore power systems and intelligent energy efficiency systems, fully embodying the concept of green development shared by both companies. They will be able to navigate domestic coastal areas, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and various ports downstream.

By the end of 2021, there were approximately 114,000 inland vessels in China, with most of them still powered by diesel engines. With the implementation of the "peak carbon" and "carbon neutrality" goals, energy-saving and emission reduction requirements for Yangtze River inland vessels have become more stringent. The shipping industry urgently needs to change its current reliance on fossil fuels and accelerate the development and application of clean energy to achieve "ecological priority and green development".

The Yangtze River is the largest transportation artery for inland navigation in China, with an annual transportation volume exceeding 3 billion tons, accounting for over 60% of the total inland shipping volume. "Powering Yangtze River by LNG" is an important measure to promote ecological protection and high-quality development of Yangtze River shipping, embodying the concept of green development.

CIMC Enric has been committed to promoting the green upgrade of shipping on the Yangtze River, Pearl River, and Xi River through its capabilities in clean energy equipment manufacturing, technological innovation and integrated solutions. This includes implementing integrated solutions for ship oil-to-gas conversion, LNG shore-to-ship refueling projects, tank-to-tank exchange technology research and development, as well as the construction of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly liquefied gas transportation and clean energy vessels.