In Australia, Incat Tasmania launched Hull 096, a 130-meter battery-electric catamaran built for South American ferry operator Buquebus, equipped with more than 250 tonnes of batteries and a 40 megawatt-hour energy storage system—the largest marine installation of its kind to date.
The vessel, Incat’s ninth for Buquebus, will operate between Buenos Aires and Uruguay, carrying up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles across the River Plate using eight electric waterjets supplied by Wärtsilä. Originally designed for LNG propulsion, the ship was reconfigured during construction as fully electric.
“This is a historic day – not just for Incat, but for the future of maritime transport,” said Incat Chairman Robert Clifford. Buquebus President Juan Carlos López Mena said, “When we were evaluating this new vessel, Robert Clifford told me, ‘The next ship I deliver to you will be 100% electric.’ I replied, ‘Then the next one must be the one we’re commissioning today.’ And with great courage, he said, ‘Together, we’re going to make history.’”
Interior fit-out and system integration will continue ahead of sea trials later this year on the River Derwent in Tasmania.
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Category: Sustainable Marine Fuels
