Zhejiang province’s first methanol-powered container ship was launched in Jiaxing on 24 March, with the vessel described as part of the province’s push to support greener inland shipping, Zhejiang Provincial Information Office reports.

The ship has a length of 64.9 metres and a width of 12.6 metres. It is reported to have a range of about 1,000 kilometres and a speed of 15.6 km/h. Its main propulsion system runs directly on methanol, avoiding the additional step of converting the fuel into electricity first.

According to the report, the methanol used by the vessel is produced using renewable energy sources, including wind and solar power. Compared with a conventional diesel-powered ship, the technology is said to lower CO₂ emissions by around 90%.

Jiaxing Zhebei Shipbuilding, which launched the vessel, has worked with institutions including Zhejiang University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University in a move designed to shift away from conventional shipbuilding towards greener vessel construction

The company is said to have secured more than 10 orders for new-energy ships, representing over 60% of its annual output.