On December 29th, the naming and launching ceremony for the world's first 10,000 DWT offshore new energy bulk carrier, the WEI QIAO LV DONG 1, was successfully held at the Wudi Chuangye Port in the Tao’erhe Port Area of Binzhou City, Shandong Province.

The carrier is equipped with SETH’s containerized power supply and was funded by Shandong Weiqiao Pioneering Group., Ltd, designed by Cruise and Yacht Research Center, Wuhan University of Technology, and constructed by Huanghai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. This collaboration signifies another leap for SETH from inland waterways to the open sea, injecting new momentum into the green and high-quality development of electric cargo ships.

The WEI QIAO LV DONG 1

The vessel has an overall length of 109.80 meters, a beam of 26.80 meters, a depth of 7.20 meters, a DWT of approximately 9,000 tons, and a speed of 11.5 knots. It adopts a hybrid electric-diesel propulsion system, equipped with eight sets of portable containerized power supply (each with a battery capacity of 1,999.9 kWh) and two diesel generator sets. In pure diesel mode, it has a range of up to 4,000 nautical miles, while in pure electric mode, it can operate for approximately 180 nautical miles.

SETH’s hybrid power solution, combining lithium batteries with diesel generators, offers both operational flexibility and economic efficiency. At sea, the vessel operates on main generator propulsion while simultaneously charging the batteries. When entering ports, emission control areas, or inland waterways, it automatically switches to fully battery-powered mode, enabling nearly zero carbon emissions throughout the voyage. The power system also features power black-out prevention, dynamic support, and peak shaving. By integrating the high efficiency of diesel-electric systems with the rapid response of battery technology, the solution significantly enhances the vessel's overall energy efficiency and electrical safety.

The eight sets of containerized power supplies onboard support efficient charging and swapping. Coupled with the world-leading shore-based charging and swapping network, they will contribute to building a "green ecological corridor" in Binzhou Port and the Tao’erhe Port Area. Once operational, the vessel is expected to deliver significant environmental benefits. Based on an estimated 10 voyages per month, it is projected to reduce carbon emissions by 9,000 tons and fuel consumption by 2,800 tons annually.

In 2021, SETH, driven by a core focus on innovation, keenly identified the emerging trend of electrification in cargo ships and dedicated substantial research and production resources to successfully develop highly competitive portable containerized battery system and "battery swapping technology." Our company has been deeply and fully involved in the inland waterway electrification drive across Jiangsu, Anhui and Fujian provinces. Leveraging its robust scientific research strength, advanced manufacturing capacity and sophisticated debugging capability for power systems, we have successfully delivered the first electric cargo vessels of the three provinces – namely JIANG YUAN BAI HE, GANG HANG CHUAN TU 01 and WU YI NO.2, thus sparking a new wave in inland waterway shipping. In 2023, YUE DONG ZHU JIANG 001, China’s first battery-swapping cargo ship refitted from a diesel-powered vessel, was also equipped with the power system of SETH and successfully delivered for operation.

Since then, the electrification drive of inland waterway cargo vessels has entered a phase of full-speed acceleration. Up to now, CSSC SETH has achieved remarkable results in the inland electric cargo vessel market, with more than 70 ship references exemplifying the enterprise’s core technological strength. The WEI QIAO LV DONG 1 mark achievement of our company’s proven electrification technology for cargo vessels expanding from inland waterways to the open sea, marking a further step in CSSC SETH’s market layout for the electrification application of merchant ships.

As 2025 draws to a close and the journey of 2026 unfolds, CSSC SETH is forging ahead toward new horizons with its proven strength, striving to write a new chapter in the electrification of merchant ships with all our efforts!