New electric sightseeing boats enter service on China’s Pearl River

Two new all-electric vessels have begun sailing on nighttime sightseeing excursions of the Pearl River in southern China.

The 42.5-metre Zhujiang Wangzi (“Pearl River Prince”) can transport 486 passengers at a maximum speed of 10 knots while the smaller Zhujiang Gongzhu (“Pearl River Princess”) has capacity for 160 passengers on three decks.

Zhujiang Gongzhu is also notable for its vintage appearance, which was designed partly as a homage to the sailing ships that plied the routes of the Maritime Silk Road during the Yuan Dynasty in the early 14th century.

Both vessels were built in compliance to China Classification Society rules.