China’s first 10,000-tonne-class pure electric intelligent container ship, also the world’s largest of its kind, launched commercial operations on Wednesday afternoon, marking a new phase of green, electric-powered development for the country’s coastal container shipping.
The “Ning Yuan Dian Kun” vessel departed from Ningbo-Zhoushan Port for Jiaxing Port, both located in east China’s Zhejiang Province. The busy shipping route, traditionally served by fossil fuel-powered vessels, is now clearly shifting toward electrification.
The vessel is 127.8 meters long and 21.6 meters wide, with a design draft of 6.2 meters. It can carry 742 TEU, or standard 20-foot container slots.
It is fitted with 10 containerized batteries with a total capacity of about 20,000 kWh and powered by two 875 kW permanent-magnet synchronous propulsion motors. It will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1,462 tonnes annually, achieving zero emissions, zero noise and zero pollution throughout its operation.
Source: Economic Daily, China. Apr 16, 2026.
