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World’s largest electric container ship starts service between China’s major coastal cities
- The world’s largest fully electric container ship is beginning a regular service between Shanghai and Nanjing
- It is hoped the Cosco ship will help to reduce emissions, saving 3,900kg of fuel for each 100 nautical miles sailed
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The world’s biggest fully electric container ship built by China will start sailing between Shanghai and Nanjing every week, state broadcaster CCTV has reported.
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Developed and manufactured by the state-owned China Ocean Shipping Group (Cosco), the Greenwater 01 is powered entirely by batteries.
It can save 3,900kg (8,600 pounds) of fuel for each 100 nautical miles it sails, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 12.4 tonnes.
After the ship’s maiden voyage on Monday, Cosco said on its WeChat social media account: “It could achieve significant emission reductions throughout the year and provide strong support for the shipping industry to achieve the goal of ‘peaking’ carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality.”
Its first trip with “zero emissions, pollution and noise has set a new benchmark for the transformation for the shipping industry towards the goals of low carbon and environmentally friendliness”, the shipbuilder wrote.
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The vessel has broken a number of world records when it comes to electric container ships, Cosco said, including its length, moulded breadth, number of containers it holds, deadweight tonnage and battery capacity.
The ship is equipped with a main battery of more than 50,000 kilowatt-hours, while more battery boxes could be added for longer voyages.
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