As the global maritime industry accelerates its push towards decarbonisation, inland waterways are emerging as one of the highest-impact arenas for change. In a move that brings together international shipping expertise and local energy infrastructure capability, Wah Kwong NatPower Holdings Limited (‘Wah Kwong NatPower’) and Huzhou Wuxing Ruituo Energy Co., Ltd. (‘Wuxing Ruituo’) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop zero-carbon shipping corridors across key inland waterways.
The two parties will jointly create a comprehensive network of electric-vessel charging and battery-swapping facilities, integrating energy supply, digital services and operational systems into a single cohesive framework. Starting in the Hangzhou–Jiaxing–Huzhou region of northern Zhejiang, the initiative is intended to expand across major inland waterway networks, offering a replicable blueprint for low-carbon inland navigation globally.
Huzhou provides strong foundations for this ambition. As a recognised pilot zone for the green transformation of inland waterway transport, the city has already implemented a comprehensive vessel electrification plan, supported by targeted investments in charging infrastructure and grid capacity. More importantly, it is building a complete low-carbon ecosystem that connects smart vessel manufacturing, renewable energy supply and the operation of zero-emission routes. This convergence of policy, infrastructure and industrial capability makes Huzhou not just a starting point, but a launchpad for scalable international deployment.
Under the agreement, Wah Kwong NatPower and Wuxing Ruituo will deploy charging and battery-swapping infrastructure along major container and bulk cargo routes, serving key ports, anchorage points and operational hubs. Alongside the physical build-out, the partnership will introduce a unified digital platform, together with carbon emissions monitoring and certification systems, allowing emissions reductions to be tracked with precision.
Wah Kwong NatPower, a joint venture between the seventy-year-old shipping group Wah Kwong Maritime and the global clean energy infrastructure developer NatPower Marine, brings maritime operational depth and international energy network expertise. Wuxing Ruituo, part of the Huzhou Wuxing Cultural Tourism Investment Development Group, contributes deep local experience in infrastructure delivery, resource integration and public sector coordination. Together, they bridge a gap that has long hindered the scaling of maritime electrification, aligning vessel operations with the power systems that support them.
More than an infrastructure project, the partnership is designed as a platform for standardisation and innovation. By aligning technical specifications, building a unified management system, and exploring next-generation solutions such as integrated photovoltaic-storage-charging technologies, the two companies are laying the groundwork for a commercially sustainable ecosystem, one in which electric vessel operations can scale efficiently and zero-carbon inland shipping routes become a reality.
Vincent Ni, General Manager of Wah Kwong NatPower, said:
“Electrification is the most direct route to decarbonising inland waterways, but it only works when energy infrastructure and vessel operations are developed together, not separately. Our partnership with Wuxing Ruituo allows us to combine international best practice with strong local execution capability, delivering a charging network that is efficient today and scalable tomorrow. We see this as a real-world model for the industry, starting in Huzhou and extending across wider international markets.”
Tao Jing, Chairman of the Wuxing Culture & Tourism Group, said:
“Green and low-carbon development is the core direction of industrial growth, and the electrification of inland waterway shipping is a key measure in advancing the green transformation of the transport sector. Our partnership with Wah Kwong NatPower demonstrates how local capability, international energy technologies, and commercial operating experience can come together to create a model for a zero-carbon route. We will continue to deepen collaboration across the value chain and drive the low-carbon and intelligent upgrading of regional water transport systems.”
About WK NatPower
WK NatPower aims to leverage Wah Kwong’s maritime experience and NatPower’s renewable energy expertise to invest in, develop, and operate a comprehensive maritime electrification infrastructure network across Asia. The Company aims to supply clean power for ships at berth for cold ironing and for propulsion, driving the maritime industry towards a sustainable future.
About Huzhou Wuxing Ruituo Energy Co., Ltd.
Huzhou Wuxing Ruituo Integrated Energy Co., Ltd. is a comprehensive energy platform under Huzhou Wuxing Culture and Tourism Investment Development Group Co., Ltd., with strong capabilities in integrating regional resources and extensive experience in the investment and construction of energy infrastructure. Closely aligned with China’s national “dual-carbon” strategy, the Company is committed to building a green, efficient and intelligent integrated energy service system. It focuses in particular on the deployment of charging infrastructure, multi-energy complementarity and energy digitalisation, and has clear advantages in delivering local green energy projects, coordinating power-supply supporting facilities, and engaging with government resources. It is a key participant in optimising Huzhou’s regional energy mix and advancing the green upgrading of industry.
About Wah Kwong Maritime Transport:
Wah Kwong Maritime Transport is a family-owned integrated shipping company based in Hong Kong, with offices in Shenzhen, London, Genoa, Singapore, and Dalian. For over 70 years, we have been investing in, owning, and operating shipping assets through market cycles. Established by T. Y. Chao and currently managed by the third generation of the Chao family, Wah Kwong currently has four main business streams: ship owning, ship management, dry bulk operating, and energy — combining a proud ship owning heritage with a modern, forward-thinking approach, serving our customers and partners in China, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
About NatPower Marine
NatPower Marine, part of the NatPower Group, is developing the largest independent network of ship charging facilities to provide clean electricity for propulsion and a cold ironing solution to the global maritime sector. The company develops the essential end-to-end infrastructure required for the decarbonisation of global supply chain routes, providing shore power to support the electrification of ships for propulsion and cold ironing at berth, at anchor, and offshore.
The NatPower Group is a global energy transition developer with approximately 24 GW of natural power projects and over 100GWh in energy storage, operating in the UK, EU, USA, Italy, Kazakhstan, and other countries. The company has an ambitious expansion plan to become the largest and fastest-growing enabler of the global energy transition.
