VESSEL REVIEW | Shennongxi No 16 – Electric sightseeing and events vessel for inland navigation in China's Hubei province

A new fully electric sightseeing vessel has commenced operational sailings in Hubei province in central China.

Shennongxi No 16 (神农溪16号) was built by Yidu Jianghui Offshore Engineering for operation by the Hubei Cultural Tourism Group in the Shennong Stream Scenic Area, a popular tourist attraction in Badong county. Low-noise all-electric propulsion was selected for the vessel since her area of operations encompasses sensitive inland waters.

The newbuild has all-steel construction, a length of 44.35 metres (145.5 feet), a beam of 10 metres (30 feet), a depth of 2.9 metres (9.5 feet), a gross tonnage of 693, and seating for up to 480 passengers across three decks.

Low-footprint propulsion delivering improved manoeuvrability

The propulsion setup includes two 240kW azimuthing podded thrusters that enable tight turns in narrow waters as well as more precise berthing and unberthing. The thrusters also take up only minimal space, thus allowing the onboard interior layout to be better optimised for passengers’ use.

An intelligent management system will meanwhile regulate energy consumption across a range of speed settings to maximise battery power even during days of heavy use.

Layout configurable to serve multiple applications

Onboard passenger spaces include standard cabins, VIP rooms, areas for live entertainment, a shopping area, and an open-air sun deck. The vessel is therefore capable of operating as a floating events venue in addition to sailing on sightseeing excursions.

Shennongxi No 16 was designed by Wuhan University of Technology Shipbuilding. The vessel’s introduction into service is part of a CNY37 million (US$5.5 million) investment in new sightseeing platforms by the Hubei Cultural Tourism Group.