China tests future of shipping on its next major trade corridor: a US$10 billion canal

Trials are under way in China to roll out Autonomous Navigation and other Smart Shipping Solutions to slash logistics costs ahead of the opening of the landmark Pinglu Canal, which will link its landlocked southwestern regions to Southeast Asia to spur trade and connectivity.Intelligent barges and other vessels have been tested on the artificial waterway in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region since Wednesday, as part of preparations for the commissioning of the roughly US$10 billion megaproject connecting the strategically located region to the Gulf of Tonkin between China and Vietnam.Integrating a range of intelligent systems and powered by Liquefied Natural Gas, the vessels could send real-time navigation and hydrographic data from multi-sensor and camera systems to relay information to other ships, state broadcaster CCTV reported, citing Guangxi authorities.