COSCO Shipping Development, the financing arm of Chinese state giant COSCO Shipping, recently revealed the debut of a 700 teu electric container ship designed for a regular 1,000-km route along the Yangtze River, according to sources.
The vessel, boasting a capacity of 10,000 dwt, will be powered by 36 portable container-sized batteries and will be equipped with two 900 kW main propulsion engines. The launch of this vessel took place at the No. 1 dock of COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry in Yangzhou. Operations for the route between Shanghai and Wuhan will be overseen by Shanghai Pan Asia Shipping, a subsidiary of COSCO.
While the vessel’s length measures 119.8 m and width is 23.6 m, it should be noted that it is considerably smaller compared to ocean-faring containerships, which can carry up to 24,000 containers and are up to three times as long.
Due to its limited battery capacity, the electric container ship will require periodic battery replacements at ports along the 1,000 km route. Fortunately, there are 30 container ports available along the 2,700 km stretch of the navigable Yangtze River, enabling smooth battery replacement operations. This innovative method of operation is expected to lead to a reduction of approximately 32 tons of carbon emissions per 24 hours.
COSCO has also played a significant role in the establishment of the China Electric Ship Innovation Alliance. With participation from top national authorities and more than 80 companies, the alliance has solidified China’s position as one of the leading pioneers in shipping electrification. The Yangtze River serves as a testing ground for various electrification innovations, fostering significant progress in this sector.
The introduction of this electric container ship marks a notable step forward in the pursuit of sustainable shipping practices to embracing environmentally friendly technologies in the maritime industry. Investment and support in vessel electrification initiatives, it is expected to increase in the future of eco-friendly shipping both domestically and on a global scale.
Sources: Splash247, COSCO Shipping Development, electrive & Offshore Energy.
