China's Ning Yuan Dian Kun begins sea trials, marking a milestone in green shipping with the largest pure electric containership globally.
China has started sea trials of the 10,000-ton Ning Yuan Dian Kun, the world's largest pure electric containership, reports Bangalore's MarineInsight.
The 740-TEU open-top vessel left Hukou County in Jiujiang after completing outfitting, installation, commissioning, and mooring tests. Built by Jiangxi Jiangxin Shipbuilding, it is China's first domestically constructed 10,000-ton-class intelligent vessel powered entirely by electricity.
Trials are taking place in the Shanghai area from 6 to 13 February, focusing on battery power supply, propulsion motor performance, hull behavior, and autonomous navigation systems. These tests are required before commercial delivery.
The ship measures 127.8 meters in length, with a beam of 21.6 meters and a depth of 10.5 meters. It carries 740 containers and has a reported maximum speed of 11.5 knots. Power comes from 10 containerized batteries with a total capacity of 19,000 kWh, driving two 875 kW permanent-magnet motors.
The vessel can be charged via high-voltage shore power and allows for quick battery replacement. It also features a photovoltaic system for supplementary renewable energy. Designed for zero emissions at sea and in port, it integrates intelligent control and autonomous navigation functions.
Once delivered, the ship will be operated by Ningbo Ocean Shipping on feeder routes linked to Ningbo-Zhoushan. A second sister vessel, Ning Yuan Dian Peng, is also on order. The project is part of China's Green and Low-Carbon Advanced Technology Demonstration initiative, aiming to create a scalable model for zero-carbon coastal shipping.
