Wah Kwong NatPower and Wuxing Ruituo to power Zhejiang's inland shipping in new deal

The Huzhou pilot zone integrates charging battery swapping and vessel operations across inland freight routes.

Wah Kwong NatPower Holdings Limited and Huzhou Wuxing Ruituo Energy Co., Ltd. have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop zero-carbon inland shipping corridors, starting in the Hangzhou–Jiaxing–Huzhou region in northern Zhejiang, China.

The partnership will build a network of electric-vessel charging and battery-swapping facilities along inland waterway routes, serving container and bulk cargo operations across ports, anchorage points, and operational hubs, according to a press release.

The companies will integrate energy supply, digital services, and operational systems into a single framework, alongside a platform for emissions monitoring and certification.

Wuxing Ruituo will handle infrastructure delivery and coordination in Huzhou, whilst Wah Kwong NatPower will provide shipping operations expertise and energy infrastructure capabilities through its joint venture between Wah Kwong Maritime and NatPower Marine.

Huzhou will serve as the initial deployment area. The city operates a pilot programme for inland waterway electrification and has invested in charging infrastructure and grid capacity. It also connects vessel manufacturing, renewable energy supply, and route operations.

The companies plan to extend the model across inland waterway networks beyond Huzhou, the press release added.

The agreement also covers alignment of technical standards and development of integrated photovoltaic, storage, and charging systems.