An Australian shipbuilder, Incat, has unveiled the largest battery-powered vessel ever constructed, marking a significant advancement in eco-friendly marine transport. Named Hull 096, the ship was commissioned by South American ferry operator Buquebus to operate between Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Uruguay.
Unveiled in Hobart, Hull 096 is fully powered by electric batteries, capable of carrying 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles across the River Plate. Incat’s chairman, Robert Clifford, hailed the vessel as the most technologically advanced project in the company’s 40-year history, emphasizing its role in promoting sustainable shipping solutions globally.
At 130 meters long, Hull 096 not only stands as the largest electric ferry but also as the biggest electric vehicle of its kind to date. It features a 250-tonne battery system with an installed capacity exceeding 40 megawatt-hours, linked to eight electric water jet drives, a configuration four times larger than previous maritime setups.
Incat’s CEO, Stephen Casey, highlighted that this project demonstrates the feasibility of large-scale, low-emission marine transport. Experts, including Dr. Liam Davies from RMIT University, see the ship as an opportunity to study electric shipping efficiency, potentially influencing future cargo ship electrification efforts.
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