China's first inland hydrogen fuel cell-powered container ship with a capacity of 64 TEUs, Dong Fang Qing Gang, starts operation in Jiaxing. [Photo/Zhejiang Maritime Safety Administration]

China's first inland hydrogen fuel cell-powered container ship, Dong Fang Qing Gang, entered commercial operation in Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province, on May 18, marking a new milestone in the development of green shipping.

With a capacity of 64 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), the vessel operates without the engine noise or exhaust emissions associated with traditional diesel-powered ships, leaving only water trails behind as it travels.

Built by Zhejiang Hydrogen Energy Industry Development, the ship is equipped with two 240-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell systems developed by local company Sinosynergy. The system can start within 10 seconds and is designed for a service life exceeding 30,000 hours.

According to Quan Bin, a representative of Zhejiang Hydrogen Energy Industry Development, the vessel generates electricity through electrochemical reactions between hydrogen and oxygen, achieving greater energy conversion efficiency than conventional diesel engines.

The ship can store up to 550 kilograms of hydrogen and has a maximum cruising range of 380 kilometers. Its integrated hydrogen storage and control system is designed to ensure a stable, safe hydrogen supply during long-distance inland voyages.

The hydrogen-powered vessel is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 700 metric tons annually — equivalent to the yearly carbon absorption capacity of approximately 39,000 trees.