The world’s largest all-electric container ship has officially entered service in China. It will operate regional services for Cosco in future.
The largest all-electric container ship currently in operation is called “Green Water 01” and has just completed its maiden voyage. It is operated by Cosco and can transport 10,000 tons. [ds_preview]
The newbuild is just under 120 m long, 26.3 m wide, and has a draught of 9 m. Its capacity is reportedly 700 TEU. However, some of the slots are reserved for battery containers, which cover the energy requirements for propulsion and onboard operation.
Fully electric with up to 88,000 kWh
The two 900 kW engines draw their power from an installed large battery with a capacity of 50,000 kWh. Additional modules in 20-foot containers, each with 1,600 kWh per unit, can increase the energy provided. Cosco reports that up to 24 battery boxes can be carried on deck.
Compared to a conventionally operated container ship, around 3.9 tons of fuel can be saved per 100 nm, which corresponds to a reduction in CO₂ emissions of 12.4 tons. The “Green Water 01” was launched in July 2023.
In future, the feeder ship will travel between Shanghai and Nanjing in inland China. The route is more than 300 km long and runs close to the coast across the sea and the Yangzijiang River to its destination. The electric container ship will later call at other Chinese seaports.
