On 28 July 2012, Haichuan 3 the first Chinese dual fuel vessel with hybrid power of diesel and LNG proofed by ship classification certification, unveiled its trial voyage at the Ezhou Guangda Shipping Company in Hubei Province. Haichuan 3 was sailing slowly out of the dock of Guangda shipyard and as soon as the vessel sailed off the shore and its engine’s spinning speed reached its critical point, the vessel successfully shifted to the hybrid power of diesel and LNG.
It steadily sailed onto the Yangtze River, symbolizing the successful completion of this trial voyage.
“Haichuan 3” is a 3.100 tonnes bulk carrier with the hybrid power of diesel and LNG, a product developed by the joint efforts of the following companies, namely, Hubei Xinjie, a subsidiary of Xinjiang Xinjie Co., Ltd whose controlling company is Kunlun Energy, Wuhan Transportation Development Group Limited, and CNPC Jinan Diesel Engine Company Limited, Wuhan Branch. This vessel with its length of 79.60 meters and width of 13.60 meters boasts an effective volume of 15 cubic meters in its LNG storage tank. Driven by an engine with hybrid power of 400 kilowatts as well as installed with systems of power control and LNG gasification, the vessel can reach a sailing speed of 18.7 kilometers with its full rated power, thus achieving its continuous sailing capacity above 3,000 kilometers at full speed.
In 2011, Hubei Xinjie maximized the geographic advantages to research the demonstration and application of vessels with hybrid power of diesel and LNG by collaborating with many enterprises, including engine shipyards, shipping designers, ship manufacturers, and providers of LNG equipment for vessels. Garnering extensive support from China Classification Society, Wuhan Branch, Hubei Xinjie facilitated the implementation of the relevant standardization guides on vessels powered by gaseous fuels. The entire development process of “Haichuan 3”, ranging from its design, inspection, and construction, is under the stringent supervision of China Classification Society, Wuhan Branch. Upon completion of the vessel in April 2012, the vessel passed a strict 3-month test of technical indicators conducted by China Classification Society.
[mappress] Source: Kunlun, July 31, 2012