China's Largest Hydrogen-Powered Vessel Officially Launched

On July 16, Yuntao No. 1—China’s largest hydrogen-powered inland freight vessel—was officially launched. It represents a major breakthrough in self-developed, high-tonnage hydrogen ships for inland waterways, setting a brand-new benchmark for the commercialization and scaling of global hydrogen shipping.

Jointly developed by Yuntao Hydrogen Energy and China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), the 2,000-tonne “Yuntao No. 1” fills China's gap in thousand-ton high-capacity hydrogen cargo ships. Equipped with a complete suite of independently developed core equipment, the vessel establishes a solid foundation for safe and efficient operations through three core technologies:

• Multi-Source Power Synergy: Balances a 2,000-ton payload capacity with extended range, tailoring performance to long-distance bulk transport on main inland waterways.

• ntegrated Full-Domain Safety System: Covers monitoring, explosion prevention, and leak response throughout the operational cycle to meet strict safety standards on complex waterways.

• Multi-Waterway Intelligent Adaptation: Custom-tuned to significantly broaden the ship’s navigable range.

The vessel complies with all A-grade inland waterway standards. Future developments will target 5,000-ton vessels to build a complete product matrix spanning thousand-ton to ten-thousand-ton capacities.

Operating with zero pollutant emissions—producing only clean water vapor—the ship achieves a range of 760 kilometers under equivalent route and tonnage conditions. With a consumption rate of only1 kg of hydrogen per kilometer, its fuel operating costs are 25% to 30% lower than traditional diesel ships, delivering a dual benefit of carbon reduction and cost savings. Furthermore, backed by priority scheduling rights at key nodes, steadily declining energy costs, and optimized workspace for the crew, “Yuntao No. 1” offers a mature, reliable, economical, and safe zero-carbon solution for the green transformation of global inland shipping.