China launches first hydrogen-powered vessel with 2,000-ton capacity

China's first hydrogen-powered vessel with a capacity of 2,000 metric tons was launched on Thursday in Zhaoqing, Guangdong province, marking a breakthrough in the country's independent development of large inland hydrogen-powered vessels.

Yun Tao No 1, developed and built by Guangdong Yuntao Hydrogen Energy Technology in collaboration with China State Shipbuilding Corporation, measures 70 meters in length and 14 meters in beam, with a cruising range of 760 kilometers. It can carry around 140 containers or equivalent bulk cargo — including ore, coal, and grain — per voyage, according to a statement from Guangzhou's Baiyun district government.

The vessel runs on a 100 percent domestically manufactured marine fuel cell system comprising three 260-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell generator sets paired with lithium battery range extenders, said Cui Caiyu, vice-president and head of the shipping business division at YunTao Hydrogen Tech. An intelligent energy management system and multi-layer hydrogen safety protection systems enable zero carbon, zero noise, and zero pollutant emissions during full operation, she said.

The hull incorporates low-resistance design and intelligent navigation early warning functions, allowing the vessel to handle complex inland waterways including shoals, torrential currents, and ecological control zones, Cui added.

Yun Tao No 1 has received type approval from the China Classification Society, certifying it for operation across China's major inland waterways. The vessel is designed as a replicable template for hydrogen-powered inland shipping routes nationwide, the statement said.