He added that the new vessels make the journey from China to the water area of the Golden Triangle (an area that spans parts of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos) and back within a day each way instead of the round-trip travel time that used to take 3-4 days.

"Not to mention that when moving against the current during the dry season, the old vessel couldn't move because its engine wasn't strong enough. We needed to tether the ship to big trees or rocks on the bank to move forward," Tan said. "But the new vessel just needs one step on the gas."

Contact the writers at chenmeiling@chinadaily.com.cn