China's inaugural training program for crew members operating intelligent inland waterway vessels has successfully launched at Wuhan University of Technology.

This landmark training initiative was organized by Wuhan University of Technology and marked a significant milestone for the sector. The opening ceremony was attended by leaders and experts from the Yangtze River Maritime Safety Administration and the university's Intelligent Transportation System Research Center and Crew Training Center.

Nine distinguished captains, chief engineers, and pilots from the Henan Port and Shipping Group are participating in this pioneering "order-based" training program. A representative from the relevant department of the Yangtze River Maritime Safety Administration highlighted that intelligent vessels represent the global shipping industry's cutting edge.

With the implementation of national strategies like the Smart Shipping Development 2030 Action Plan, China's smart shipping sector is entering a crucial phase of growth. The vessel "Yujiaotou 001," the Henan Port and Shipping Group's first intelligent ship, embodies the fusion of artificial intelligence with inland water transport.

However, as intelligent technology is still in its early stages, the captain remains the "primary responsible person" for vessel safety, necessitating a shift in their role to become "managers and supervisors of intelligent systems." This training represents not only China's first for inland waterway smart vessel crews but also a profound exploration of the "order-based" training model for such personnel.

An official from the Wuhan University of Technology ITS Center noted that the Henan Port and Shipping Group's intelligent fleet, including six vessels from the "Yujiaotou" and "Yuxinneng" series, are pioneers in China's inland waterway autonomous navigation sector. The training aims to help crew members develop data-driven situational awareness.

The goal is for crew to evolve from mere users of intelligent equipment to active participants and contributors in intelligent navigation, providing practical feedback to help smart systems better understand both vessels and human operators. The curriculum is focused on the forefront of inland waterway smart shipping technology.

It is designed around the objectives of understanding the trends in smart shipping, grasping the theoretical foundations of intelligent technology, mastering smart system operations, and enhancing vessel operational safety. The program comprises seven modules covering theoretical knowledge and simulation system training.

These modules include fundamentals and technical principles of intelligent vessels, regulatory frameworks, emergency response for inland smart ships, and practical training on intelligent navigation simulators. Preliminary hands-on courses were completed in Zhoukou, Henan.

The theoretical and simulation training sessions held from July 4th to 5th were led by a team of experts including Senior Captain Li Sheng, Captain Zhan Lihong from the Yangtze River Maritime Safety Administration, and Professors Ma Feng and Zhang Wenfen from the project team. To ensure the training's high quality, a team led by Academician Yan Xinping began preparatory work as early as February 2025.

The team, drawing on experience from the development and operation of early-stage intelligent vessels, conducted multiple surveys on crew usage of various smart ship functions. They also established a dedicated task force to compile China's first "Inland Waterway Intelligent Vessel Crew Training Guide (Version 1.0)."

In early June, the Yangtze River Maritime Safety Administration coordinated with the ITS Center, the Crew Training Center, and related companies to further refine the curriculum, finalizing objectives, content, training models, and instructors. A specialized assessment will follow the completion of the training.

The successful launch of this program signifies a breakthrough from "zero to one" in cultivating talent for China's inland waterway intelligent shipping industry. It lays a solid foundation for the Henan Port and Shipping Group to build a high-quality crew capable of confidently and competently operating intelligent vessels.

It also provides valuable experience for subsequent "order-based" training programs for inland smart vessel crews. Moving forward, the involved parties will continue to strengthen cooperation, deepen research on crew training, assessment, and manning for intelligent vessels, and enhance the development of high-quality "future crews" for inland waterways to better serve the fundamental improvement of maritime safety.

Background on the "Yujiaotou 001" Intelligent Vessel:

The "Yujiaotou 001" is Henan Province's first thousand-ton-class pure electric new energy intelligent cargo ship. Its main dimensions are approximately 54 meters in length overall, 10.2 meters in breadth, 3.20 meters in depth, and 5.5 meters in height. Currently, the vessel is undergoing operational testing on the Pingdingshan-Luohe-Zhoukou route.

As the core carrier of a major "unveiling the list and assigning priorities" scientific research project led by Wuhan University of Technology with key support from Henan Province, the ship features a multi-level takeover mechanism integrating a "shore-based control center, autonomous navigation, and an onboard safety officer."

This system enables supervised autonomous navigation and remote control, with autonomous navigation tests covering 6,000 kilometers and remote control tests covering 530 kilometers, establishing it as a leading industry platform for autonomous navigation technology verification. Building on the successful validation of the technical pathway by the "Yujiaotou 001," the "Yuxinneng" series of new energy intelligent vessels, developed by Wuhan University of Technology and launched by the Henan Port and Shipping Group, have begun to make their appearance.