QAZAQ GREEN.  A major milestone in sustainable maritime transport was reached on May 2 as Incat Shipyard in Hobart launched the world’s largest battery-electric ship, Hull 096.

Built for South American ferry operator Buquebus, the 130-metre vessel will operate on the River Plate between Buenos Aires and Uruguay. It can carry up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles and runs entirely on battery power.

Originally designed to operate on LNG, the ship was redesigned to be fully electric. It is equipped with over 250 tonnes of batteries and an energy storage system with more than 40 megawatt-hours of capacity—four times greater than any previous maritime installation. The propulsion system includes eight electric-driven waterjets supplied by Wärtsilä.

“This is the most ambitious and significant vessel we’ve built,” said Incat Chairman Robert Clifford. “It marks a new chapter for clean transport.”

Buquebus President Juan Carlos López Mena called the project a shared achievement in sustainability. The vessel is the ninth that Buquebus has commissioned from Incat.

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff praised the project for showcasing the state’s shipbuilding capabilities and supporting local industry and jobs.

Interior work on the vessel will continue, including the installation of a 2,300-square-metre duty-free shopping area, ahead of sea trials on the River Derwent later this year.

Hull 096 stands as one of the most significant export achievements in Australian manufacturing history and a key step forward in zero-emissions maritime transport.