China has officially put its first hydrogen-electric tugboat into service. The vessel, named Hydrogen-Electric Tug No.1, or “Qing Dian Tuo 1,” began operations on June 26 at Qingdao Port in eastern China’s Shandong Province.
The tugboat uses a hybrid propulsion system that combines hydrogen fuel cells with liquid-cooled lithium batteries. This setup enables the vessel to run with zero carbon emissions and operate for more than 12 hours at a speed of 9 knots.
It also delivers a strong towing force of 82 tons, making it the most powerful harbor tug in the country and one with the largest lithium battery capacity to date.
According to local port officials, this innovation is expected to reduce over 1,500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually compared to conventional diesel-powered tugboats. It also offers improvements in noise control, equipment lifespan, and energy efficiency.
The tugboat was designed and built by the “Liangang Innovation Team” at Shandong Port Qingdao Port Group
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