As the global shipping industry accelerates its transition toward low-carbon, digital, and intelligent development, emerging technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), big data, and automatic control systems are profoundly transforming the shipbuilding industry. This transformation has positioned maritime autonomous surface ship (MASS) at the strategic forefront of international maritime technology competition. Although China has launched numerous R & D projects in autonomous ships and has made substantial progresses, challenges persist, such as unclear market demand and inadequate technological drivers. This study selects green-fueled container ships as the primary research focus, addressing their intelligence and autonomy requirements in actual shipping environments. The study identifies four core development directions and constructs a hierarchical logical architecture for autonomous ships. Subsequently, it investigates the application of autonomous technologies in the maritime domain. Furthermore, the paper analyzes evolution trends of autonomous ships and identifies shortcomings in key technological breakthroughs and institutional frameworks. Based on the analysis, targeted development pathways are proposed to facilitate R & D advancement, practical implementation, and systematic capability-building for autonomous ships in China, providing strategic guidance for the industry’s development.