State-owned China Ocean Shipping Group (COSCO) has launched the world’s largest electric container ship, which will begin a regular service between Shanghai and Nanjing and save 3,900kg of fuel for every 100 nautical miles sailed.
The Greenwater 01 arrived at the deepwater Yangshan Port in Hangzhou Bay south of Shanghai this week, an all-electric container ship measuring 119.8 meters in length, width of 23.6 metres and depth of 9 metres.
It is the world’s first 10,000-tonne pure electric container ship and boasts a top speed of 19.4km/h and a battery capacity of over 50,000kWh.
Each battery container offers 1,600kWh of electricity and utilises a container similar to the standard 20-foot containers the vessel transports. The number of battery packs can therefore be modified depending on the journey by simply modifying the number of battery containers are installed onboard.
The Greenwater 01 is expected to be able to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 12.4 tonnes for the same distance travelled.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.