Jiaxing Port Area Is Building a Zero-Carbon Shipping Model with Hydrogen Power.

March 26, 2026

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by Chi Weitao (Jiaxing Daily/Sina Finance (Google translation)) On the morning of March 17, accompanied by gentle ripples, the "Oriental Hydrogen Port," the first inland waterway container ship in China with a 64 TEU hydrogen fuel cell power, smoothly berthed at berth No. 6 of Hangzhou Xiasha Port, successfully completing its first long-distance voyage test.

This not only marks the final countdown to the ship's commercial operation, but also represents another "springtime report" from Zhejiang Zhapu Economic Development Zone (Jiaxing Port Area) in implementing the national hydrogen energy development strategy and exploring the comprehensive application of hydrogen energy.

Zero-carbon navigation: Inland waterway transport equipped with a "hydrogen heart"

As a benchmark vessel for the zero-carbon transformation of inland waterway shipping in my country, the "Oriental Hydrogen Port" was officially completed on December 1, 2025. Prior to this, it completed sea trials, passed the inspection of the China Classification Society and obtained classification certification, filling the gap in domestic inland waterway hydrogen fuel container transportation technology.

According to reports, the destination of this long-distance test was Hangzhou Xiasha Port, with an actual sailing distance of 83.7 kilometers and a total duration of about 8 hours. All sailing indicators met expectations, and the long-distance test mission was successfully completed.

At the dock, reporters saw the container ship, painted in red, green, and blue, standing tall and imposing, with the words "Oriental Hydrogen Port" prominently displayed. Unlike traditional ships that are accompanied by the roar of diesel engines and faint smoke during navigation, this 2,000-ton container ship is almost silent during startup and navigation, with only ripples in the water at its stern, truly achieving zero-emission and zero-pollution green navigation.

"This is equivalent to implanting a highly efficient and clean 'hydrogen heart' into a large-tonnage inland waterway vessel." The on-site technicians explained that the battery compartment located at the stern is equipped with two sets of Guohong Hydrogen Energy Honghan C240 hydrogen fuel cell systems, which are currently the most powerful marine hydrogen fuel cells in China. They can respond and start up quickly within 10 seconds and have a designed service life of more than 30,000 hours.

With a designed hydrogen storage capacity of 550 kg and a range of over 380 km, this vessel is well-equipped to handle complex inland waterway environments. It is estimated that compared to traditional fuel-powered vessels, it can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 700 tons annually, an environmental benefit equivalent to planting 39,000 trees on Earth.

"This long-distance test is a crucial practical verification before the ship's commercial operation!" said a representative from Zhejiang Hydrogen Energy Industry Development Co., Ltd. The test focused on verifying core indicators such as actual route endurance, power stability, and hydrogen fuel consumption, further validating the ship's adaptability and reliability in real-world shipping scenarios. The successful completion of this mission not only marks the countdown to the ship's commercial operation but also confirms the maturity of my country's inland waterway hydrogen-powered ship technology chain (R&D, construction, and practical application), creating a replicable and scalable model for the green and low-carbon transformation of inland waterway shipping nationwide.

The aforementioned person in charge stated that Zhejiang Hydrogen Energy Industry Development Co., Ltd. will leverage the remote measurement data to optimize operational details, accelerate the normalization of route operations, continue to deepen its involvement in the inland waterway hydrogen energy shipping sector, and contribute to the construction of a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient water transportation system.

Synchronized and resonant, local practices precisely align with national strategies

It is noteworthy that just one day before the "Oriental Hydrogen Port" successfully completed its long-distance test, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Development and Reform Commission jointly issued the "Notice on Carrying Out Pilot Work for Comprehensive Application of Hydrogen Energy." This document explicitly states that through pilot projects in urban clusters, the application scenarios of hydrogen energy should be expanded from fuel cell vehicles to diverse fields such as transportation and industry, with a focus on promoting the application of hydrogen energy in innovative scenarios such as ships. READ MORE