The Sanxia Qingzhou 1 ship cruises on the Yangtze River on Oct 11. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's first hydrogen fuel cell power ship "Sanxia Qingzhou 1" (Three Gorges Hydrogen Boat No 1) completed its maiden voyage in Yichang, Hubei Province on October 11.

The hydrogen powered ship has a steel and aluminum composite structure, with a total length of 49.9 meters, a width of 10.4 meters and a depth of 3.2 meters. It adopts the hydrogen fuel cell and lithium battery power system developed by China State Shipbuilding Corporation 712th Research Institute. Its hydrogen fuel cell rated output power is 500 kilowatts, realizing an endurance of up to 200 kilometers, with a maximum navigation speed of 28 km/h and a cruise speed of 20 km/h.

It is estimated that the hydrogen powered ship is expected to save 103.16 tons of fuel oil per year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 343.67 metric tons compared with traditional oil-powered ships.

Sanxia Qingzhou 1 was constructed by the Zhongshan-based Jianglong Shipbuilding Technology Co. It is the first hydrogen fuel cell power ship certified by the China Classification Society in China.

On May 17, 2022, construction of Sanxia Qingzhou 1 began at Jianglong Shipbuilding's Zhongshan Science and Technology Park, with its hull being completed in November of the same year. The ship was launched on March 17 this year, and its maiden voyage was completed in Yichang, Hubei Province on October 11.