VESSEL REVIEW | Linghang Zhixing – Battery-powered inland tour boat for China’s Heilongjiang province

Chinese shipyard Harbin North Shipbuilding Industry has delivered a new inland sightseeing vessel powered by lithium iron phosphate batteries.

Designed by Wuhan Polytechnic Shipbuilding, Linghang Zhixing ("Navigator Star") has an LOA of 26.84 metres, a beam of 5.9 metres, a depth of two metres, a displacement of 138 tonnes, and capacity for 53 passengers. The four batteries have a total rated output of 600 kWh. These supply power to two 60kW permanent magnet motors driving propellers to deliver a speed of approximately 10 knots. At a more economical cruising speed of 6.4 knots, the vessel can sail for up to eight hours.

An intelligent management system ensures quicker responses to helm operator input.

Linghang Zhixing will be operated primarily in the waters of the north-eastern province of Heilongjiang. The vessel and its battery propulsion were built for sailings even during the winter months when temperatures in that region of China can drop to as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius. The Harbin Electric Group collaborated with Harbin Engineering University's Longjiang Engineering College to develop a solution that addresses the issue of cold temperatures, particularly the damage inflicted by such temperatures on traditional batteries.

The design work and construction of Linghang Zhixing was completed in compliance to China Classification Society rules.

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