Australian shipbuilder Incat has completed initial sea trials of what it says is the world’s largest battery-electric ferry, a 130-metre vessel known as Hull 096, as testing begins ahead of its planned deployment in South America.
The aluminium-built ferry, constructed in Hobart, is being built for South American ferry operator Buquebus and is scheduled to enter service between Argentina and Uruguay from next year. Incat received the order in mid-2023 and launched the vessel in May. Further testing is planned in the coming months before the ferry sails to South America.
“This is the first time a ship of this size, anywhere in the world, has been trialled under 100 percent battery-electric propulsion,” Robert Clifford, chairman of Incat, said in a statement. “It’s a remarkable achievement by our workforce and a turning point for shipbuilding.”
Designated Incat Hull 096, the RoPax ferry can carry up to 2,100 passengers and crew along with 225 cars. It also includes more than 2,000 square metres of retail space and is designed to operate on the Rio de la Plata using a twin-hull, catamaran-style configuration, a design Incat says improves efficiency and manoeuvrability.
While the vessel is being built in Australia, key components are sourced from Europe. The propulsion system is supplied by Finnish engineering group Wärtsilä, while the 40-megawatt-hour battery system is provided by Norway’s Corvus Energy. Incat said the battery installation is four times larger than any previously deployed in maritime transport.
Wärtsilä is supplying eight electric motors, an energy management system and eight axial-flow waterjets as part of the propulsion package. “The waterjet propulsion configuration with eight electric motors is the most efficient available on the market today for this speed range and type of application,” Roger Holm, president of Marine Power at Wärtsilä, said previously, citing efficiency and low maintenance benefits.
The ferry is expected to be charged using high-capacity shore-based infrastructure to be installed in South America, according to Corvus Energy.
The project comes as Incat expands its focus on electric vessels, supported in part by a A$60 million loan from the Tasmanian government. The company has also announced plans for a second production facility at Boyer, upstream from Hobart, which would double its manufacturing capacity.
“Today’s milestone shows we are now leading the world in the next era – sustainable, high-performance vessels at scale,” Clifford said.