On September 24, the all-electric battery-powered cargo ship under Shandong Ronghui Era was approved for RMB 1.9573 million in national funding for the scrapping and renewal of old operating vessels, becoming the first case of an all-electric battery-powered cargo ship receiving this subsidy nationwide, signifying the complete establishment of the national subsidy approval process for all-electric cargo ships.

In January 2026, the Ministry of Transport and the National Development and Reform Commission explicitly included all-electric battery-powered vessels in the subsidy scope for new energy ships, with a maximum subsidy of RMB 40 million per newly built inland vessel. The policy will continue until the end of 2028. Previously, LNG-powered vessels had already pioneered the application process, but all-electric vessels differ from LNG vessels in terms of ship inspection and certification, power system identification, and application materials, making the application paths non-interchangeable. Ronghui Era's approval fills this gap for all-electric cargo vessels.

Ronghui Era, a joint venture between CATL and Jining Energy, operates Jining's "6006" all-electric cargo ship, with a load capacity of nearly 2,000 tons. It is equipped with two box-type power sources with a total capacity of 3,919 kWh, providing a full-charge range of approximately 230 kilometers and annually replacing about 50.4 tons of fuel. Four charging and battery-swapping stations have been established at Liangshan Port, Longgong Port, and other locations, enabling battery swaps in 15 minutes.

The arrival of the first subsidy provides the industry with a clear cost reference, but subsidy implementation is just the first step. The Jining Model relies on a "battery-swapping + containerized power" approach and proprietary port resources, balancing subsidies with operational savings. However, when replicating this experience in other shipping segments, port conditions, cargo source stability, and electricity prices are all variables. For shipowners, calculating the initial investment, operational costs, and subsidy recovery period is crucial in deciding whether to enter the market.