China’s Hydrogen-Powered Inland Container Ship Launched

The hull of the inland container ship was launched this week, and the hydrogen power system and control devices will be installed in 2025.

On December 18, my country’s first hydrogen-powered large inland container ship was launched. The ship, named “Dongfang Qinggang,” will have the largest hydrogen fuel cell system deployed on a ship in China to date and will be used to demonstrate the potential of the technology.

The ship will be equipped with two 240-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cells and have a hydrogen storage system that can hold 550 kilograms of hydrogen. The ship is expected to have a range of about 235 miles. Developed by a Chinese company called Sinosynergy, the fuel cell is said to be the first high-power application in the shipping industry and can power ships carrying heavy loads.

The barge has a capacity of 64 TEU, equivalent to about 1,450 tons. The ship is about 64.9 meters long and weighs about 2,000 tons.

In addition to the fuel cells, the power system includes a hydrogen storage and supply system. It will be connected to lithium batteries. This will be the first time the system has been installed on a ship, along with the propulsion and control systems.

The structure was launched on Wednesday in eastern China’s Zhejiang province. The barge will be outfitted and tested, with plans to start commercial demonstration service in 2025. The vessel will operate between the Jiaxing Chabu Port and the Hangzhou Xiasha Port.

This is the latest in a series of pioneering efforts by China to reduce domestic shipping emissions. Other projects also test battery-powered ships, electricity, and charging systems. Several Chinese projects are also exploring hydrogen-powered charging.