Yichang Establishes Its First Pure Electric Vessel Charging Station

Yichang City has recently established its first low-voltage, high-capacity charging station for pure electric transport vessels at Yidu Ningtong Port. The new facility effectively addresses the recharging needs of new energy vessels operating along the Xingshan–Zhijiang phosphate mine green shipping corridor.

State Grid Yichang Power Supply Company personnel inspecting electric vessel charging facilities

Photo by Wu Tingting

The Ningtong Port electric vessel charging station is equipped with an 800 kVA box-type transformer, along with supporting infrastructure such as AC power distribution boxes, shore power interface boxes, and low-voltage cabling systems. The entire system converts 10 kV AC power directly into the DC power required by vessels, supporting the short-distance green shipping needs of electric vessels transporting phosphate ore between Xingshan and Zhijiang.

Panoramic view of the Yidu Ningtong Port Electric Vessel Charging Station in Yichang City

Photo by Wu Tingting

Li Xingheng, head of shore power operations and maintenance at State Grid Yichang Power Supply Company, stated that the Ningtong Port electric vessel charging station is a demonstration project for the company’s initiative to develop a charging and battery swapping network for electric vessels along the Yichang section of the Yangtze River. Once completed, the project is expected to meet the charging needs of vessels operating on the demonstration route from Xingshan’s Xiakou Port area to Yidu Port area. The station is estimated to provide approximately 200 charging sessions annually, supplying a total of 200,000 kWh of electricity—equivalent to replacing 47 tons of fuel oil and reducing pollutant emissions by 148 tons—while also significantly lowering vessel energy costs.

Yidu Ningtong Port is integrated with the development of the Hubei Xingfa Group’s Yidu Chemical Industrial Park. The port has constructed seven high-pile bulk cargo berths, occupying 600 mu of land and reaching an annual waterway throughput capacity of 10 million tons.