Third Department: By 2028, the number of new energy ships on inland rivers will double compared with 2025

China News Service, October 13. According to the website of the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the National Energy Administration recently issued the "Action Plan for the Promotion and Application of Inland River New Energy Ships (2026-2030)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Action Plan").

The "Action Plan" clarifies that by 2028, the number of new energy ships on inland rivers will double compared with 2025, and full-scenario demonstration applications will be initially realized. The Yangtze River and Xijiang shipping trunk lines, the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal shipping green channel, and the Yangtze River Delta and other ship electrification pioneer areas will be basically completed, and a comprehensive zero-carbon waterway transportation channel of 3,000 kilometers will be formed. By 2030, an industrial ecosystem with rich business formats in all scenarios, strong support across the entire chain, and a sound high-standard system will be basically established, and the large-scale application of new energy ships will be initially realized.

The "Action Plan" proposes to focus on promoting 11 tasks in three aspects. The first is to accelerate the application of all scenarios, including promoting the multi-scenario classified application of new energy ships, accelerating the promotion and application of methanol-powered ships focusing on the Yangtze River and Xijiang trunk lines, accelerating the multi-scenario application of electric ships in the Yangtze River Delta, Yangtze River trunks and tributaries, and the Pearl River Delta, and creating "two horizontal, one vertical and two network" zero-carbon water transportation channels. The second is to strengthen full-chain support, including four tasks: improving ship energy supply security, encouraging innovative business models, strengthening manufacturing industry support, and optimizing operation management. The third is to promote high-standard development, including three tasks: improving standards and specifications, improving supervision and management systems, and strengthening key technology research.

The "Action Plan" requires that local transportation authorities should work with relevant departments to promote and strengthen multi-faceted policy support, carry out pilot trials, summarize and promote experience, and implement detailed implementation plans in key areas, strengthen organization and implementation, and actively and steadily implement implementation.