China deploys world’s largest all-electric container ship

The vessel, named Ningyuan Diankun, departed on Wednesday from Ningbo-Zhoushan Port to the Zhapu Port area in Jiaxing, eastern China, officially beginning service, as reported by Global Times newspaper.

Developed by Ningbo Ocean Shipping Co, the ship measures 127.8 meters in length and 21.6 meters in width, with a capacity of 742 standard containers.

It is powered by 10 standardized battery containers with a combined storage capacity of about 20,000 kilowatt-hours, roughly equivalent to the batteries of around 300 household electric vehicles.

Ningyuan Diankun, the world's largest all-electric container ship. Photo courtesy of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port

According to CGTN, the vessel is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1,462 tonnes annually while operating with zero emissions, minimal noise, and no pollution during voyages.

The ship is equipped with smart navigation and engine systems that enable autonomous collision avoidance, high-precision tracking, and integrated ship-shore-cloud control. It also uses a dual-mode charging system that combines high-voltage shore power with rapid battery container swapping to maintain operational efficiency.

Ningbo Ocean Shipping currently operates 32 green and energy-efficient vessels, accounting for 57 percent of its fleet, along with 19 intelligent vessels. The Ningyuan Diankun is one of the company’s first two fully electric intelligent ships.

Its sister vessel, Ningyuan Dianpeng, is scheduled to begin trial voyages in May and be delivered in June. Once both ships enter service, they are expected to operate at scale on designated coastal routes.