Chinese inland containership fitted with intelligent systems begins operational sailings

Chinese shipping company the Zhejiang Seaport Group has commenced operational sailings of a new container vessel designed for use on inland waters.

Zhegang Neihe 002 (“Zhejiang Port Inland River 002”) is notable for also being fitted with a remote navigation system, thus enabling the vessel to be controlled or monitored from a shore-based operator’s station up to 100 kilometres away. The autonomous navigation capability is currently limited to waterways of more than 70 metres wide.

The vessel was delivered in late 2024 but commenced operational sailings only this week.

Zhegang Neihe 002 is being operated as part of a research project that will demonstrate the application of key technologies for enhanced navigation of inland containerships in a ship-to-shore collaborative environment (as well as introduce a lower-emission alternative to traditional crewed ships for inland container transport).

The ship has a length of 67.5 metres, a beam of 12.67 metres, a depth of 3.3 metres, a gross tonnage of just under 1,000, a diesel-electric propulsion arrangement, and a capacity of 64 TEUs.

Thanks to the optimised hull alignment and the double-tail fin-stern design, the steering of the vessel is made more flexible, allowing for safe navigation even in narrow inland waterways.

Zhegang Neihe 002 was built by Huzhou Port Shipbuilding in compliance with China Classification Society rules.