China Launches Largest Hydrogen Cargo Ship for Pearl River Inland Routes

The 2,000-tonne Yun Tao No. 1, powered by hydrogen fuel cells, entered service in Guangdong, marking a shift from pilot projects to commercial-scale hydrogen shipping in the region.

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China has launched its largest hydrogen-powered inland cargo vessel to date, the Yun Tao No. 1, on 16 July 2026 in Zhaoqing, Guangdong province. The ship was built by a partnership between Guangdong Yuntao Hydrogen Energy Technology and China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), with CSSC's Guangzhou Shipbuilding Industry unit carrying out the construction.

The vessel measures either 69.3 or 70 metres in length, depending on the reporting source, and can carry up to 2,000 tonnes of cargo, including up to 140 containers or bulk materials such as ore, grain, and coal. Its propulsion system relies on three 260 kW hydrogen fuel-cell generator sets combined with lithium batteries, giving it a range of 760 kilometres. An intelligent energy-management system distributes power between the fuel cells and batteries, while the hull is optimized for low resistance and an intelligent navigation early warning system helps avoid shoals, rapids, and ecologically-controlled zones.

The Yun Tao No. 1 is intended to operate on the Beijiang river network in the Pearl River basin. Guangdong Yuntao aims to deploy 100 standard hydrogen-powered vessels across the Pearl River region within the next four years, reaching around 2030. The company further expects to achieve subsidy-free commercial operations by 2028.

According to Guangdong Yuntao, the vessel's fuel costs are 25 to 30 percent lower than a comparable diesel-powered ship, with other sources citing 20 to 30 percent savings. Operating costs are also reported to be 20 to 30 percent lower than diesel, per Maritime Executive. The company claims it is the first to have built a closed-loop network covering hydrogen production, storage, transport, and deployment.

Other hydrogen inland vessels in China include the Dong Fang Qing Gang, a 64 TEU ship that began commercial service on the Jiaxing–Hangzhou route in May 2026, and a planned 2,000-tonne hydrogen internal-combustion/electric vessel expected to launch in Wuhan in 2028.