China Deploys First Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Powered Inland Container Ship in Push Toward Zero-Emission Waterways

China is taking a big step forward in clean energy shipping with the launch of an open tender to run its very first inland hydrogen fuel cell-powered container ship. This isn’t just a cool tech milestone—it’s a real move toward building out zero-emission river logistics.

A new chapter for hydrogen in shipping

The ship, developed by Zhejiang Hydrogen Energy Industry Development Co., Ltd., is outfitted with Sinosynergy’s 240 kW hydrogen fuel cells—the largest that have ever been used on a vessel in China. It’s set to run along the Zhapu–Xiasha corridor in Zhejiang Province, helping open up a key route in what could become one of the country’s first true green shipping corridors.

Stats that matter

So what are we looking at in terms of capabilities? The ship can haul up to 64 TEUs, store around 600 kg of hydrogen, and cruise for roughly 380 km on a full tank. It’s also wired with a digital twin monitoring system, which means operators can keep tabs on performance in real-time—smart, efficient, and built for sustainability.

Slashing emissions, setting new standards

Jiaxing Zhongcheng will handle operations, with the service tender—valued at 680,000 yuan—officially opening on July 7, 2025. And the environmental payoff? This cutting-edge ship could cut up to 700 tons of CO₂ emissions every year. That’s a pretty significant win for industrial decarbonization.

Building the hydrogen infrastructure of tomorrow

More than just a standalone project, this initiative lays a solid groundwork for expanding hydrogen infrastructure across China’s inland waterways. It’s all part of a bigger vision—one that integrates sustainable energy solutions with logistics to transform how cargo moves through the country.

With hydrogen fuel cells at the heart of this operation, China’s pushing the envelope on what zero-emission technology can do—not someday, but right now.