China’s Zenith Steel has partnered up with Shanghai Ruihua Group, a electrical power system manufacturer, to jointly develop a fully electric vessel.
The vessel will used to transport grain slag from Zenith Steel’s factory in Changzhou to its subsidiary plant Zenith New Materials on a 80km route on Jinghang Grand Canal.
Zenith Steel has invested RMB5m ($745,000) for the 1,000 dwt vessel, which will be the first electric cargo vessel on the canal.
The design of the vessel has been completed and is waiting for approval from authorities. Zenith expects the construction of the vessel to commence within the year.
Zenith Steel currently operates over 500 small cargo vessels on the canal, transporting steel and ore products.
