On July 19, the world's first 24,000-TEU methanol dual-fuel containership, OOCL WISDOM, made its maiden voyage at YANTIAN. As the world's largest and one of China's most technologically advanced green containerships, OOCL WISDOM selected YANTIAN as its only port-of-call in South China and its last port-of-call in China. Together, OOCL and YANTIAN are providing Chinese foreign trade enterprises with more efficient, reliable and sustainable logistics solutions.
OOCL WISDOM measures 399.99 metres in length, with a beam of 61.3 metres and a moulded depth of 33.2 metres. The containership has a maximum deadweight of approximately 225,000 tonnes and a capacity of 24,168 TEUs. Fully loaded, it stands as tall as a 22-storey residential building, making it the largest methanol dual-fuel containership currently in service worldwide.
The containership is powered by the world's largest methanol dual-fuel propulsion system, featuring the largest methanol dual-fuel main engine, auxiliary engines and boiler currently in operation. It can seamlessly switch between methanol and conventional marine fuel while underway. It is estimated that each containership can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 150,000 tonnes annually, equivalent to the carbon sequestration capacity of around 820,000 trees. Sulphur oxide emissions are virtually eliminated, while nitrogen oxide emissions are significantly reduced. During its berth and operations at YANTIAN, OOCL WISDOM showcased the future of green shipping through its exceptionally low-emission performance, while contributing to cleaner air across the port area.
Historically, the lower energy density of methanol compared with conventional marine fuel required larger fuel tanks, leaving less space for cargo and limiting the carrying capacity of methanol-powered containerships relative to their conventionally fuelled counterparts. OOCL WISDOM has overcome this challenge through an optimised hull design, reconfigured onboard space and a fully upgraded propulsion system. By breaking through a series of key technological barriers, the containership preserves the environmental benefits of methanol while delivering a carrying capacity comparable to that of the world's largest conventionally fuelled containerships. This milestone marks a significant advancement in methanol dual-fuel technology, from proving that the technology works to demonstrating that it can power mega containerships, effectively reconciling the industry's long-standing challenge of achieving both decarbonisation and maximum transport efficiency.
Efficient Collaboration Drives "Intelligent Manufacturing in China" Exports to Europe
To ensure the success of OOCL WISDOM's maiden voyage, YANTIAN implemented a dedicated operational plan tailored to the containership's size and operational requirements, optimising berth allocation and equipment deployment. The terminal also worked closely with customs, port supervisory authorities to enhance supporting services and streamline clearance procedures, enabling the containership to berth and commence handling operations immediately upon arrival while ensuring seamless operations throughout its stay. These coordinated efforts helped ensure the timely shipment of export cargo.
During its maiden voyage, OOCL WISDOM loaded nearly 5,000 TEUs at YANTIAN before departing for major European ports, carrying a full load of "Intelligent Manufacturing in China". Notably, part of the cargo was transported via YANTIAN's Chengdu–Shenzhen-Hong Kong Scheduled Rail-Sea Service, which operates on fixed schedules, routes, pricing, and train frequencies. The service enables cargo to travel from factories in Chengdu to YANTIAN in just two days for seamless transfer onto ocean-going containerships. Backed by an integrated door-to-door logistics solution featuring a single booking, a single transport document, and end-to-end cargo visibility, the entire journey is managed through a highly efficient and seamless logistics chain.
An OOCL representative said: "Looking ahead, OOCL will continue to strengthen its partnership with YANTIAN to further enhance end-to-end rail-sea services. Through reliable shipping products, professional and efficient logistics solutions, and a steadfast commitment to sustainable development, we look forward to working closely with our customers to build a greener and more resilient supply chain."
Leveraging its strategic location, natural deep-water ports, advanced terminal facilities and operational excellence, YANTIAN continues to provide reliable berthing and efficient handling services for the world's largest containerships. YANTIAN currently offers around 100 weekly shipping services connecting major ports worldwide. Supported by the extensive global liner network, YANTIAN works closely with shipping companies, government departments, and port supervisory authorities to deliver frequent, extensive, shortest, and efficient services to the market.
To further strengthen its role as a key logistics hub connecting domestic and international markets, YANTIAN is advancing Phase I of the East Port, a project with a total investment exceeding CNY10 billion. Following expert review in early July, the first two berths successfully passed final completion acceptance. Working in close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, YANTIAN is striving to bring the new facilities into operation before the end of this year, showcasing China's smart port development during the 2026 APEC "China Year" while further supporting regional economic and trade cooperation. Together with its partners, YANTIAN aims to transform supply chains into value chains that deliver shared success.
As a key infrastructure project under China's 14th Five-Year Plan and the Greater Bay Area development strategy, the East Port covers 1.2 million square metres, with a quay length of 1,470 metres. The project comprises three fully automated 200,000-tonne container berths and is designed to handle an annual throughput of 3 million TEUs.
Improving Efficiency While Reducing Carbon: Ten Years of Growth Without Higher Emissions
Going green is central to the international recognition YANTIAN continues to earn. Since 2019, it has received the Best Sustainable Container Terminal award (formerly the Best Green Container Terminal award) five times over the past eight years, making it the only container terminal in the world to have earned this distinction five times. The figures speak for themselves:
A decade of progress (2015–2025): Annual container throughput increased by 25%, while carbon emissions per TEU fell by 32%, achieving growth without higher carbon emissions.
Leading China in shore power: YANTIAN was the first terminal in China to achieve 100% shore power coverage across all berths. It was also among the first to deploy shore power on a large scale and remains a national leader in berth-side power supply capacity. It ranks first among individual terminals nationwide in shore power consumption, accounting for one quarter of the total shore power consumed by terminals across China.
A diversified green energy supply system: In November 2022, YANTIAN completed South China's first LNG bunkering operation for an internationally sailing containership, becoming the fourth hub port in the world and the first in South China capable of providing LNG bunkering services. It subsequently completed the Greater Bay Area's first green methanol bunkering operation, Shenzhen's first bonded LNG bunkering operation at anchorage, and China's first simultaneous LNG bunkering operation for two containerships, establishing a diversified green energy supply system covering LNG, methanol, and shore power.
One of the world's largest ports for on-dock chassis battery swapping: YANTIAN's on-dock chassis battery swapping station project, run with CATL's QIJI Energy, now operates at scale across a network of three linked swapping stations. Together with the world's first on-dock chassis battery swapping station for trucks, the port's three swapping stations can serve more than 260 of these trucks, and a single battery swap takes about five minutes against around an hour for conventional charging.
A comprehensive green transformation across the entire logistics chain: By accelerating the electrification of terminal equipment, expanding rail-based intermodal transport to facilitate a modal shift from road to rail, deploying the nation's largest shore power system, and introducing battery-swapping solutions for heavy trucks, YANTIAN is optimising its energy mix and accelerating the adoption of clean energy. Together, these initiatives have enabled the terminal to achieve steady growth in container throughput while continuously reducing carbon emissions.
The three priorities of 2026 APEC "China Year"—Openness, Innovation and Cooperation—are closely reflected in YANTIAN's development. Building on the opportunities presented by the start of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period and the 2026 APEC "China Year", YANTIAN will continue to respond to customer needs and market changes by further enhancing its shipping services, multimodal transport, smart port development, and low-carbon initiatives, while strengthening its integrated port service capabilities.
At the same time, YANTIAN will continue to work closely with government and port supervisory authorities, shipping companies, railway operators, and logistics partners to optimise resource allocation and improve operational efficiency, providing customers with more stable, efficient, low-carbon, and reliable logistics solutions. It will also contribute new momentum to China's dual carbon goals and the high-quality development of foreign trade, strengthen its role as a key node in the global supply chain, support the growth of the real economy, and contribute to the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains.