Notice from the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the National Energy Administration on Issuing the "Action Plan for the Promotion and Application of New Energy Inland Waterway Vessels (2026-2030)"

October 15, 2026

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(China National Energy Administration) Transportation departments (commissions), industry and information technology departments, and energy bureaus of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government; all dispatched agencies of the National Energy Administration; and all units and departments under the Ministry of Transport:

The "Action Plan for the Promotion and Application of New Energy Vessels on Inland Waterways (2026-2030)" is hereby issued to you. Please implement it conscientiously in light of your actual circumstances.

Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, National Energy Administration

September 29, 2026

(This document is publicly released)

Action Plan for the Promotion and Application of New Energy Vessels in Inland Waterways (2026-2030)

Promoting the development of new energy vessels is an important measure to implement the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, and to accelerate the construction of a strong transportation nation, a strong manufacturing nation, and a strong energy nation. It is conducive to building a new energy system and a comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development. This action plan is formulated to accelerate the promotion and application of new energy vessels on inland waterways.

I. General Requirements

Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and thoroughly implementing the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and its subsequent plenary sessions, we will fully and accurately implement the new development philosophy, accelerate the construction of a new development pattern, and aim to promote the adjustment and optimization of my country's industrial structure, energy structure, and transportation structure. We will adhere to market-led and policy-guided approaches, scenario-driven and innovation-driven breakthroughs, and on the basis of the orderly development of liquefied natural gas-powered ships, we will focus on promoting the full-scenario application, full-chain support, and high-standard development of electric and methanol-powered inland waterway ships, stimulating new momentum for green and low-carbon development of inland waterway shipping, cultivating new growth points for consumption in the transportation sector, and supporting the improvement of a modern comprehensive transportation system.

By 2028, the number of new energy vessels on inland waterways will double compared to 2025, with over 1,000 electric transport vessels and over 100 methanol-powered vessels. The number of electric government vessels and port vessels will also increase significantly, achieving initial full-scenario demonstration applications. Methanol refueling services along the Yangtze River will be fully operational, and a basic network of charging and battery swapping facilities for vessels will be established in the Yangtze River Delta waterway region. The Yangtze River, Xijiang River, and Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal shipping green channels and pilot zones for vessel electrification in the Yangtze River Delta will be largely completed, forming a comprehensive 3,000-kilometer zero-carbon waterway transportation corridor.

By 2030, the number of new energy vessels on inland waterways and the mileage of zero-carbon waterway transportation channels will continue to increase. A complete industrial ecosystem with rich business formats across all scenarios, strong support across the entire chain, and a sound high-standard system will be basically established, and the large-scale application of new energy vessels will be initially realized.

II. Accelerate the application across all scenarios

(a) Promote multi-scenario classification applications.

Accelerate the application of electric vessels in passenger and freight transport scenarios within 300 kilometers and under 3,000 deadweight tons. Promote the application of electric cargo ships in short- and medium-distance container and dry bulk cargo transport scenarios such as inland waterways or specific river-sea direct routes with relatively fixed routes; promote electric passenger ships in riverside and lake/reservoir area sightseeing and ferry scenarios. Encourage the use of battery power for government vessels, harbor vessels, and yachts. Increase the promotion and application of methanol-powered vessels in long-distance, large-tonnage freight transport scenarios. Focus on long-distance transport scenarios such as river-sea direct transport and river-sea intermodal transport, and promote the use of methanol-powered vessels for container, bulk cargo, and roll-on/roll-off transport. Encourage local governments to explore the application of other energy sources such as hydrogen energy based on their actual conditions. Support the application of renewable energy sources such as biodiesel and green methanol in ships.

(ii) Accelerate the promotion and application of methanol-powered ships.

The Yangtze River mainline will focus on developing demonstration routes for zero-carbon transportation of container, dry bulk, and roll-on/roll-off methanol-powered vessels, including Chongqing-Shanghai, Chongqing-Yichang, and Ma'anshan-Ningbo. Methanol bunkering facilities will be constructed in Chongqing, Yichang, Wuhan, Nanjing, and other locations to create a bunkering service capability spanning the entire Yangtze River mainline. Support will also be provided for developing demonstration routes for zero-carbon transportation of dry bulk methanol-powered vessels, such as Nanning-Guangzhou and Wuzhou-Guangzhou, along the Xijiang River mainline.

(III) Promote the application of electric ships in multiple scenarios.

Accelerate the construction of a pilot zone for ship electrification in the Yangtze River Delta. Focus on developing demonstration routes for zero-carbon transportation of container and dry bulk cargo ships, including Suzhou-Shanghai, Huzhou-Shanghai, Huzhou-Taicang, Huzhou-Jiaxing, Hangzhou-Jiaxing, Suqian-Lianyungang, Changzhou-Zhenjiang, Jining-Xuzhou-Nanjing, and Hangzhou-Ningbo. Promote the application of standardized and serialized ship types, and drive the coordinated construction of charging and battery swapping facilities on key sections of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, Su-Lian Canal, Changhu-Shen Line, and Hujia-Shen Line.

Expand the application of electric cargo ships in the Yangtze River and its tributaries, as well as in the Pearl River Delta. Focus on developing zero-carbon electric shipping routes for containers and dry bulk cargo, such as Wuhan-Shanghai, Wuhan-Xiangyang, Jingzhou-Huanggang, Changsha-Yueyang, Jiujiang-Nanchang, Guangzhou-Shenzhen, Guangzhou-Dongguan, and Shenzhen-Foshan, as well as short-haul electric ship routes within ports like Guangzhou Port, and improve supporting charging and battery swapping facilities. Encourage the exploration of full electrification along the Pinglu Canal, Jianghuai Canal, and Shaying River. Orderly expand the scale of electric passenger ships, focusing on developing electric passenger routes for riverside cruises in cities like Chongqing, Wuhan, and Guangzhou, and along the Minjiang River, Lijiang River, the Two Dams and One Gorge, Danjiangkou Reservoir, Erhai Lake, and Wanlv Lake.

(iv) Create zero-carbon waterway transportation channels.

In ports or waterway service areas along the Yangtze River, the Xijiang River shipping route, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, and the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta water network areas, a number of ship charging and battery swapping and methanol refueling facilities will be constructed in a coordinated manner. Integrated "wind, solar, storage, charging, and battery swapping" facilities will be built according to local conditions to form a methanol refueling service network that coordinates supply and demand and effectively connects them. This will provide intensive and convenient charging and battery swapping services, promote the application of electric and methanol-powered ships, and gradually form a "two horizontal, one vertical, and two network" zero-carbon waterway transportation channel.

III. Strengthen support across the entire supply chain

(v) Enhance energy supply security.

Strengthen the coordination between methanol refueling facilities and the production, supply, storage, sales, and transportation network. Methanol refueling facilities can be located along the shoreline of port support systems or in water service areas. Support the expansion of methanol refueling functions into existing water refueling or gas filling stations (pontoons) and water service areas, and explore the creation of integrated energy replenishment stations. Promote the standardized construction of public shore-based charging facilities in accordance with standards such as the "Technical Specifications for the Construction of Shore-Based Charging Facilities for Electric Ships." Research mobile charging and battery swapping methods and the application of fuel ethanol. Encourage local governments to coordinate the planning and construction of electric ship charging and battery swapping facilities, incorporate the energy demand of electric ships into power grid planning, accelerate the construction of power supply and distribution facilities outside the red line, and increase support for the access of distribution networks and distributed energy sources such as wind and solar power to ship charging and battery swapping facilities.

(vi) Encourage innovative business models.

Support cargo owners, equipment manufacturers, energy companies, and port and shipping enterprises to leverage their strengths and explore new integrated development models across the entire industry chain. Capitalize on the advantages of the battery industry, support the development of new battery swapping business models such as ship-battery separation and battery banking, and encourage the development of businesses such as ship financing leasing and standardized container power supply leasing. Encourage energy and port and shipping enterprises to establish long-term stable price mechanisms linked to traditional energy sources.

(vii) Strengthen the support of the manufacturing industry.

Formulate and release green ship type catalogs categorized by water area and scenario, promote the formation of a series of standardized technical solutions for ship energy and power equipment configurations, drive modular and standardized design, and serialized and mass-produced construction, creating competitive ship type brand products and new energy power systems. Cultivate a number of leading enterprises in shipbuilding and supporting industries, guide the clustered development of the entire industry chain, and achieve high-standard construction. Encourage the improvement of service support capabilities for new energy ship repair and second-hand ship transactions.

(viii) Optimize operation management.

Guide the introduction of basin-wide coordinated policies for vessel classification and lock passage, and encourage the development of support policies tailored to local conditions for new energy vessels in lock passage, berthing, unloading, and loading/unloading. Provide convenient and efficient services such as vessel inspection, registration, and operational certification for newly added new energy vessels in accordance with the law. Improve the management system for containerized power supply hoisting at port terminals, applying it to marine equipment. Optimize the training system for crew members of new energy vessels, increasing the proportion of senior crew members employed by shipping companies. Formulate technical rules for green vessel classification and explore the establishment of corresponding policy incentive mechanisms.

IV. Promoting High-Standard Development

(ix) Improve standards and specifications.

Promote the promulgation of standards such as technical specifications for methanol fuel bunkering barges and safety regulations for waterborne bunkering operations. Continuously improve technical specifications for electric vessels, optimize battery capacity, type, and other technical and inspection requirements, and promote ship-shore integration and resource sharing. Accelerate the implementation of the key standards work plan for electric vessels, and enhance the uniformity and uniqueness of the "ship-shore-electricity" connection. Research and formulate relevant technical standards for the application of hydrogen fuel internal combustion engines in ships, hydrogen storage and dehydrogenation systems, storage, transportation, and bunkering.

(x) Improve the supervision and management system.

Implement differentiated safety management for new energy vessels and construct a regulatory and service system encompassing design, construction, and operation. Innovate ship inspection technologies and enhance digitalization. Ship inspection agencies should strengthen the construction inspection of new energy vessels to ensure that relevant vessels meet technical specifications. Implement regulations such as the Guidelines for the Inspection of New Energy Vessels, and promote the research, development, construction, and data access of a national monitoring system for the operation of new energy vessels. Conduct research on risk assessment procedures for new energy vessels, guide shipping companies to improve safety management systems, strengthen operational risk identification and assessment, and implement risk-based hierarchical control and hazard investigation and rectification. Encourage local governments to establish emergency response plan systems covering all scenarios, including refueling, port production, and maritime emergencies, and conduct regular personnel training and emergency drills to improve emergency response capabilities.

(xi) Strengthen the research and development of key technologies.

Accelerate the construction of science and technology innovation platforms related to new energy ships, and support the establishment of technology innovation alliances. Expedite the research and development and verification of key components such as marine methanol engines, methanol injectors, and high-pressure pumps; strengthen research on technologies such as battery pack structure optimization, thermal runaway protection, and rapid fire suppression of high-energy-density lithium batteries; and conduct research on core technologies such as ultra-high-power fast charging, high-energy-density, high-safety, long-cycle-life power batteries, lightweight and miniaturized battery modules, and hydrogen-ammonia fuel power and storage systems. Support research on high-safety and high-reliability DC integrated power system technologies.

V. Strengthen Implementation Safeguards

(xii) Strengthen policy support.

Make good use of various central and local funding channels to increase support for the construction and operation of new energy ships such as methanol and electric vessels, as well as their refueling facilities. Study and implement regional energy support policies for electric ships. Incorporate the promotion and application of new energy ships into the provincial comprehensive evaluation and assessment of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. Leverage the incentive role of the re-lending policy tool for scientific and technological innovation and technological transformation to guide financial institutions to strengthen their support. Provincial transportation, industry and information technology, and energy departments should actively promote local governments to optimize the approval process and operation management requirements for methanol refueling facilities, introduce supporting policies, and guide the acceleration of power supply and distribution facilities construction outside the red line.

(xiii) Encourage pilot projects.

Organize and carry out pilot projects for the promotion and application of new energy vessels as part of the national transportation power strategy. Focusing on typical scenarios, the projects will explore key areas such as crew staffing optimization, construction and management of supporting facilities, hierarchical and classified management of containerized power supplies in ports, modular and standardized shipbuilding inspection and registration management, and green, intelligent, and collaborative technologies, to develop replicable and scalable experiences. Key provinces such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Shandong, Hubei, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian are encouraged to increase their support, conduct pilot projects, and summarize best practices.

(xiv) Strengthen organization and implementation.

Promote the establishment of cross-departmental coordination mechanisms to strengthen collaboration among departments, local governments, and enterprises, and create policy synergy. The Yangtze River and Pearl River Navigation Administrations of the Ministry of Transport have respectively formulated implementation plans for green channels on the Yangtze River main line and the Xijiang River shipping main line. Key provinces are encouraged to formulate implementation plans, clarify development goals, actively and steadily implement them, and conduct timely evaluations of implementation effects and summarize and promote best practices. READ MORE