TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A company in Kaohsiung on Thursday launched what it called the first zero-emission ship in the world, the Porrima P111, for use in Palau’s tourism sector.

The Taiwan ally’s president, Surangel Whipps Jr., Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), and Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) were present at the ceremony. The ship was made by Porrima, a specialized shipbuilder led by Acer founder Stan Shih (施振榮), per CNA.

Chen praised the ship as the result of efforts by Taiwan supply chains and as a landmark in the cooperation between new technologies and environmental consciousness. The ship will be used for diving and ecotourism trips near the Palau island of Peleliu.

The launch of the Porrima P111 in Kaohsiung illustrated the city’s role as a world leader for zero-emission vessels, the mayor said. The trend would create more jobs and business opportunities, according to Chen. He compared the ships to electric vehicles as examples of how technology applications and research and development were as important as the product itself.

Porrima said the ship was a model for its participation in Taiwanese government programs in Palau, with the intent of promoting new energy and sustainable tourism.