The Nation's First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Container Ship for Inland Waterways, "Oriental Hydrogen Port," Completes Construction and Certification Guohong Hydrogen Energy's 240kW System Lays a Solid Foundation for Zero-Carbon Shipping

Recently, a key milestone was achieved in the green transformation of China's inland waterway shipping. The "Dongfang Hydrogen Port," the nation's first 64TEU hydrogen fuel cell-powered container ship for inland waterways, equipped with Guohong Hydrogen's Honghan C240 fuel cell system, was officially completed. It successfully obtained the "Classification Certificate for Domestic Navigation Ships" from the China Classification Society (CCS), filling a technological gap for hydrogen-fueled container vessels in China's inland rivers.

I. Core Ship Parameters and Zero-Carbon Benefits

The "Dongfang Hydrogen Port" has an overall length of 64.5 meters, a displacement of approximately 2,000 mt, and a cargo capacity of 64 TEUs. Using hydrogen as its sole energy source, it emits only water throughout its voyage, achieving zero-carbon operation for the entire journey. The ship's power core consists of two sets of Honghan C240 marine fuel cell systems, each with a rated power of 240 kW, making them the highest-power marine hydrogen fuel cell systems currently available in China. The vessel carries 550 kg of hydrogen storage, providing a driving range of up to 380 km. In the future, it will operate on a dedicated route between Jiaxing Zhapu Port and Xiasha Port on the inland waterway.

Calculations show that the ship can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 700 mt annually, providing a replicable zero-carbon vessel model for the deep decarbonization of inland waterway shipping and actively responding to the national "dual carbon" strategy requirements.

II. Five Technical Advantages of the Honghan C240 System

As the core power source of the vessel, the Honghan C240 marine fuel cell system has received CCS type approval. It is a flagship product developed by Guohong Hydrogen specifically for waterborne transportation scenarios and possesses five leading characteristics:

1. Ultra-Long Service Life: Designed with a service life exceeding 30,000 hours, it can match the full life cycle needs of the vessel.

2. Rapid Response: Capable of starting up and reaching rated power output within 10 seconds, promptly meeting the power demands of ship navigation.

3. Strong Environmental Adaptability: Can easily handle complex challenges encountered during navigation, such as vibration, salt spray, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).

4. High Safety Protection: Multiple protective measures, including isolation of hydrogen-related and non-hydrogen-related parts, explosion-proof dilution, and redundant design, fortify operational safety.

5. Stable Operation: Utilizes highly reliable parts to ensure the system operates continuously and stably under marine conditions.

III. Two Key Phases of the Project's Challenges

As the core equipment supplier, Guohong Hydrogen's technical service team overcame numerous difficulties during the project's advancement, ensuring the vessel's successful delivery:

1. The Month-Long "Major Test" of Ground Integration: Before the system was installed on the ship, Guohong Hydrogen provided professional facilities and equipment for over a month of ground integration and joint testing. Following ship inspection standards, comprehensive tests were conducted on four major assemblies—the lithium battery, switchboard, fuel cell, and propulsion system—and dozens of detailed items. The performance of the power system gained recognition from the Shanghai Ship Inspection Office, laying the foundation for the vessel's certification.

2. The "Ultimate Challenge" Inside the Ship's Hold: After the system was installed, facing complex conditions including a narrow, enclosed, and stuffy engine room environment, along with the need for coordination among multiple suppliers, six engineers took shifts working on-site. They closely collaborated with partners such as Haida Hydrogen Energy and Hedong Shipyard, repeatedly debugging key aspects like communication interfaces and power operation, even working late into the night, ultimately ensuring the vessel's successful trial voyage and certification acquisition.