Three Gorges Hydrogen Boat 1, developed by China Three Gorges Corp, China State Shipbuilding Corp's 712th Institute, the Three Gorges Navigation Authority and the Wuhan Changjiang Ship Design Institute, is 49.9 meters long, 10.4 meters wide and can accommodate 80 passengers and crew.

The new boat, a hydrogen-powered vessel, can save as much as 103 metric tons of fuel oil and reduce the emission of about 344 tons of carbon dioxide each year compared to a conventional vessel.

It can reach a maximum speed of 28 kilometers per hour and can travel about 200 km when sailing at a cruising speed of 20 km/h.

Three Gorges Hydrogen Boat 1 is tasked with transporting passengers, making patrols as well as helping in emergency response. Its operational zones are the Three Gorges Reservoir area and the Yangtze River section between the Three Gorges Dam and the Gezhouba Dam.

China is striving to make its transport sector more environmentally friendly in order to achieve green growth. Hydrogen fuel cells, a popular choice for clean-energy vehicles, have been listed by the government as one of its priorities for research and investment.