China's inaugural 2,000-tonne hydrogen-powered general cargo ship, named the "Yuntao No. 1," was launched in Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, on July 16.

The vessel was developed by Guangdong Yuntao Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd. ("Yuntao Hydrogen Energy") in collaboration with China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited. It represents the nation's largest hydrogen-powered cargo ship to date, signifying a major milestone in the development of domestically produced, large-tonnage hydrogen-powered shipping equipment for inland waterways.

According to reports, the "Yuntao No. 1" has an overall length of approximately 70 meters and a cruising range of 760 kilometers. Its hydrogen consumption is 1 kilogram per kilometer, and its fuel operating costs are estimated to be 25% to 30% lower than those of traditional diesel-powered vessels.

The ship is equipped with a full set of core systems developed independently. It utilizes key technologies such as multi-source power coordination and matching, as well as comprehensive hydrogen safety protection. The vessel achieves zero carbon emissions, is suitable for complex navigation channels in Class A inland waterway areas like the Yangtze River and Pearl River, and meets the demands of bulk cargo transportation.

On the same day, the China Hydrogen-Powered Ship Industry Innovation Consortium was officially inaugurated. This consortium has initially brought together nearly 40 upstream and downstream enterprises, covering the entire chain from design and manufacturing to operation. Its aim is to address industry challenges such as a fragmented supply chain and difficulties in core technology breakthroughs.

Yang Qiang, Chairman of Yuntao Hydrogen Energy, stated that the company plans to leverage the consortium. The goal is to put 100 standardized hydrogen-powered ships into operation on the Pearl River within four years, improve supporting infrastructure for on-water hydrogen refueling, and strive to achieve sustainable, subsidy-free commercial operation of hydrogen-powered ships by 2028.