VESSEL REVIEW | Gezhouba – Battery-electric cargo ship enters service on Yangtze River

Gezhouba also integrates intelligent energy efficiency management, machinery space monitoring, an integration platform, navigation control and remote operation.

Communications run over 4G, 5G and satellite links, supporting shore-based remote navigation, automatic berthing and unberthing, and autonomous collision avoidance. According to the 712 Research Institute, the vessel is China's first inland bulk carrier to hold both the i-Ship(R1) and i-Ship(Nn) additional notations.

The ship was launched at Zigui on October 19, 2025, and named four days later in Yichang before entering outfitting. Conventional navigation trials were completed on June 12, 2026, in the Taipingxi waters upstream of the Three Gorges Dam.

Intelligent ship trials, including remote control, followed on June 30 on the Guizhou section of the Yangtze under escort from Yichang maritime authorities.