Posted on May 21, 2026
Wah Kwong NatPower has teamed up with Chu Kong Shipping Enterprises (CKS) to push forward the electrification of inland water transport between Hong Kong and Guangdong.
The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding to explore cooperation across electric vessel deployment, charging and battery-swapping infrastructure, and wider low-carbon shipping initiatives in the Greater Bay Area.
The agreement brings together Wah Kwong NatPower, the clean energy and infrastructure arm backed by Wah Kwong Maritime Transport and NatPower Marine, and CKS, a regional water transport and port logistics operator under Guangdong Provincial Port & Shipping Group.
The partners said the cooperation will focus on building the ecosystem needed to support electric shipping operations across the region, including vessel technology, terminal charging facilities, and standardisation of battery-swapping systems.
Industry players see inland and shortsea trades as one of the more practical starting points for maritime electrification, especially in heavily trafficked coastal and river networks where vessels operate on predictable schedules and shorter routes.
Vincent Ni, general manager of Wah Kwong NatPower, said the move reflects the need for broader cooperation across the maritime supply chain to make shipping decarbonisation commercially workable.
He said electrification of water transport requires coordination across infrastructure, technology, ports and vessel operators, adding that the partnership with CKS could help identify practical projects suited to Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.
The companies said both sides will exchange industry information and jointly study policy, operational and technical developments tied to electric shipping.
The partnership also comes as authorities and maritime groups across the Greater Bay Area step up efforts to build cleaner transport networks. The region has been increasing investment in shoreside charging systems and exploring unified technical standards aimed at supporting cross-border vessel operations.
CKS operates extensive passenger and cargo services across the Pearl River Delta and Hong Kong, giving the project a potentially large operational platform if pilot schemes move into commercial deployment.
The two companies said they will now establish a joint working group to identify priority projects and develop a framework for future cooperation.
The deal also follows wider moves in China’s inland shipping sector to accelerate electrification. Earlier this year, Splash reported on a new joint venture launched to support electric vessel deployment and charging infrastructure development across China’s inland waterways as the country ramps up efforts to decarbonise domestic shipping.
