China has launched the world’s largest battery-electric container ship, the Greenwater 01, which has begun regular operations between Shanghai and Nanjing along the Yangtze River. This marks a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to reduce emissions in the shipping industry.
Developed by the China Ocean Shipping Group (Cosco), the Greenwater 01 is an impressive vessel, measuring 120 meters in length and 24 meters in width. It boasts a battery capacity of 50,000 kWh, with the ability to expand to 80,000 kWh if necessary. The ship’s batteries are housed in containers that can be recharged in the harbor or exchanged using cranes.
The electric drive system of the container ship is expected to save 3,900 kilograms of fuel per 100 nautical miles (185.2 kilometers) and reduce CO2 emissions by 12.4 tonnes. Over the typical 965-kilometer route between Shanghai and Nanjing, this translates to a significant fuel saving of over 20,000 tonnes, although actual consumption depends on the direction of travel relative to the river’s current.
With a freight capacity of 700 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), the Greenwater 01 not only sets records for length, width, and load capacity of a battery-electric ship but also for container capacity, according to Cosco. The company stated, “The 700 TEU electric container ship is the world’s first large all-battery container ship for long-distance transport,” highlighting its role in green modernizing the Yangtze River and providing solutions for emissions reduction in China’s shipping industry.
