Hubei Province has launched the “Thousand Sails Plan” to accelerate the green transformation of inland shipping vessels.

　　China News Service, Wuhan, March 26 (Reporter Wu Yili) The launch ceremony of Hubei's "Thousand Sails Plan" was held in Wuhan on March 26. According to the plan, by 2030, Hubei will build, renovate, and upgrade 1,000 new energy ships, expand green demonstration routes to more than 10, achieve independent control of core technologies, and drive the transformative development of China's inland green intelligent ship industry.

　　According to reports, Hubei, as the province with the longest mileage of the Yangtze River mainline, is accelerating its transition from a "major shipbuilding province" to a leader in China's green intelligent ship industry. Hubei has nearly 9,000 professional ship research and development personnel, with 80% of China's green intelligent ship research and design originating from Hubei, and Hubei's ship electric drive systems accounting for 62% of the national market.

　　By 2025, the output value of Hubei's shipbuilding industry will historically surpass 100 billion yuan. The province has incorporated the green intelligent ship industry into the "51020" advanced manufacturing industry cluster, providing multiple policy guarantees in financial support, technological research and development, and industrial layout, and has already established a first-mover advantage in the entire industrial chain.

　　Zhou Yongshi, Chairman of Hubei Port Group, stated that the "Thousand Sails Plan" is a special initiative aimed at leading the high-quality development of China's inland shipping green intelligent ship industry, covering the entire industrial chain of research, design, manufacturing, operation, supporting facilities, and services.

　　Under the "Thousand Sails Plan," Hubei will integrate resources from universities and research institutes to form an innovation consortium, tackle core technologies of ship "three-electrics," and achieve large-scale application; focus on high-end ship manufacturing to establish a batch production capacity of no less than 100 new energy ships annually; create a "Hubei Provincial Team" for new energy ship operations, collaborate with cultural tourism and freight institutions, plan to build Wuhan cruise homeport, and launch intercity "zero-carbon freight" pendulum routes. Additionally, Hubei will accelerate the deployment of charging and battery swapping stations along the Yangtze River and Han River, ensuring 100% coverage of new energy supply facilities in core port areas to address "range anxiety" for new energy ships.

　　According to data from the Yangtze River Shipping Administration of China's Ministry of Transport, by 2025, 202 new energy ships will have been put into operation on the Yangtze River mainline, achieving a year-on-year doubling of growth. The Yangtze River mainline has become a global green demonstration zone for the large-scale application of inland new energy ships. (End)