Recently, the launch ceremony was held in Qidong, Jiangsu Province for the world's largest and China’s first dual-fuel powered trailing suction dredger with a hopper capacity of 15,000 cubic meters, named Xinhaixun, demonstrating that China has bridged the gap of clean energy-powered dredger with the R&D, design and manufacture of the LNG-powered trailing suction dredger.

The trailing suction dredger is the vessel serving dredging projects and is mainly responsible for dredging and maintenance projects within channels. Meanwhile, it is the major equipment of China for sand blowing reclamation. Designed by the 708 Research Institute of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), the dredger boasts a total length of 155.7 m, a beam of 32 m, a maximum draught of 9.9 m and a maximum hopper capacity of 17,000 cubic meters.

Below the main deck there are 3 floors, the lower floor for the power equipment such as the main engine and generator, the middle floor for the control system such as the centralized control console and the power board, and the upper main deck for the cranes and dredging equipment. This vessel is the largest LNG-powered trailing suction dredger in the world.

The vessel also features China's most advanced and intelligent "one-key dredging" system and "dredging and driving in one" system, which will ensure that only one person is required to perform the driving and dredging operations at the same time for the first time in China. The LNG power system and diesel power system of the vessel can be switched at any time to maximize environmental protection and energy saving.

Scheduled to be delivered in September 2024, the vessel will mainly be used for dredging, sand blowing reclamation and coastal maintenance projects within coastal ports and deepwater channels, and will play an important role in promoting the development of green shipping in China.