The Yangtze River Is Becoming the World’s Largest Electrified Trade Corridor

The electrification of ports and vessels along major river systems like the Yangtze, Rhine, Mississippi, and Mekong is a key step towards a sustainable shipping industry. The Gezhouba, an all-electric bulk carrier with containerized lithium battery modules, showcases the potential for clean energy in inland shipping. Inland ports like Yichang are integrating ship charging into their grid operations, while delta ports like Shanghai and Ningbo are evolving into partial power plants with renewable energy sources. The global trend is towards electrification of inland and short-sea shipping by mid-century, with deep-sea vessels transitioning more slowly. Once reliable electric power reaches these terminals, the transition to clean energy in the shipping industry is seen as inevitable.

https://cleantechnica.com/2025/10/26/the-yangtze-river-is-becoming-the-worlds-largest-electrified-trade-corridor/