On the morning of August 12, the first full‑waterway, full‑vessel‑type sea trial of the Pinglu Canal was officially launched, marking the final major assessment ahead of its navigation opening in September. The 5,000‑ton‑class green and intelligent demonstration vessel, powered by Yuchai's main marine engine YC6TFN, has completed all navigation verification tests and is ready for official operation alongside this landmark project.
As the first canal connecting rivers to the sea built since the founding of the People's Republic of China and a backbone project of the New International Land‑Sea Trade Corridor in Western China, the Pinglu Canal stretches 134.2 km and accommodates vessels of up to 5,000‑ton class. After navigation opens, the sea‑going shipping distance for cargo from Southwest China will be shortened by more than 560 kilometres, cutting annual transportation costs by approximately 5.2 billion yuan. It will become the shortest, most economical and convenient water‑transport corridor linking China's inland southwest region with ASEAN countries.
During the sea trial, the 5,000‑ton‑class green and intelligent demonstration vessel Beigang Canal 002, equipped with the Yuchai YC6TFN marine engine, delivered stable power output throughout the whole test. It passed full‑working‑condition verifications including power matching, full‑speed turning and emergency braking, with all core performance indicators meeting design requirements.
As a flagship power solution for inland trunk waterway transportation, the Yuchai YC6TFN series gas‑fueled marine engines are suitable for 5,000‑ton‑class bulk carriers, transport ships, passenger vessels and engineering vessels. It offers remarkable cost advantages over diesel‑powered alternatives. Calculated under typical operating conditions, vessel operators can save over one million yuan in fuel costs every year. Meanwhile, it delivers outstanding environmental‑friendly performance: PM and sulphide emissions are nearly zero, while NOₓ emissions comply with China's Stage‑II emission standards for marine engines. Its CO₂ emission is reduced by around 23 % compared with diesel engines of equal power, which is highly aligned with the green and intelligent shipping positioning of the Pinglu Canal.
Beyond reliable product performance, Yuchai provides a comprehensive supporting service‑guarantee system. Along the Pinglu Canal route, Yuchai has set‑up service stations in Nanning, Qinzhou, Guigang and Guiping, enabling technical service staff to arrive on‑site within one hour. From bench‑test support and on‑site technical attendance during sea trials in the early stage, to forward‑deployed spare‑part reserves along the canal for later‑stage operation, Yuchai delivers full‑cycle, all‑scenario operation‑and‑maintenance services to fully ensure stable operation of the demonstration vessel's power system.