Australia: A Tasmanian boat builder has unveiled what it claims is the largest electric ship ever constructed, a vessel hailed as a milestone for sustainable maritime transport.
Launched in Hobart, the 130-metre vessel, named Hull 096, was built by Incat for South American ferry operator Buquebus. Designed to run between Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Montevideo, Uruguay, the ship is fully battery-electric and can carry up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles across the River Plate.
Incat Chairman Robert Clifford remarked that, “This is a giant leap forward in sustainable shipping. Hull 096 is the most ambitious, most complex, and most important project we’ve ever delivered.”
Weighing in with over 250 tonnes of batteries and more than 40 megawatt-hours of installed capacity, the ship’s energy storage system powers eight electric-driven water jets, a setup four times more powerful than any previous maritime installation, according to the company.
Incat CEO Stephen Casey stated that, “This vessel proves that large-scale, low-emission transport solutions are not only possible, they are ready now.” Clifford said the Tasmanian-based firm aims to produce more sustainable ships for global markets, both locally and internationally.
The global shipping industry currently contributes about 3 percent of the world’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
Dr. Liam Davies, a sustainability and urban planning lecturer at RMIT University, described the new vessel as a promising model for future electrification efforts.
Dr. Davies commented that, “Because it services a regular ferry route, this is a good use case to see what works and what doesn’t in electric shipping. It could serve as a stepping stone toward fully electrified cargo and container vessels.”
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