July 8, 2025
The Chinese Ministry of Transport has reported rapid growth in new-energy, clean-energy vessels in the inland water transport sector.
China has been accelerating its shift to greener fuels in inland water transport, with more than 1,000 vessels powered by new energy or clean energy now operating nationwide, according to the Ministry of Transport.
As of the end of 2024, the country had over 600 liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels, primarily used for inland cargo transport and 485 battery-powered electric vessels, mostly serving as passenger ferries, Vice Transport Minister Fu Xuyin told a press conference in June.
China’s new energy and clean energy vessels are holding their own against global benchmarks. Among these, electric vessels are predominantly utilized in China, leading global position in terms of scale and technology.
…said Fu Xuyin.
Additionally, a smaller number of inland vessels powered by methanol or hydrogen fuel cells are also in use, Fu added. China’s electric vessel industry has developed rapidly in recent years, leading globally in both scale and technological advancement, he said.
Furthermore, alongside upgrading vessels, China is advancing efforts to develop green, low-carbon ports which entail expanding and renovating inland port terminals with a focus on sustainability.
Fu Xuyin added that the China is further developing near-zero-carbon inland terminals, encouraging the use of wind and solar power at ports, promoting the use of new energy and clean energy in port machinery and on-site transport vehicles and prioritizing rail and new-energy trucks for bulk cargo handling.
