World’s Largest Battery-Powered Ship Launched In Australia

The largest battery-powered ship in the world was launched in Hobart on Friday, with the development being called a giant leap in sustainable shipping.

It was built by Tasmania-based Incat, which called it the most important, ambitious and most complex project the company has ever done.

The ship called Hull 096 was built for South American ferry operator Buquebus and will ply between the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires and Uruguay.

The vessel has over 250 tonnes of batteries, allowing it to run solely on battery power. It also has over 40 megawatt-hours of installed capacity.

It can accommodate 2100 people and 225 vehicles, sailing across the River Plate that forms a border between Argentina and Uruguay.

Incat said that at 130 m, Hull 096 is not only the world’s biggest electric ship but also the biggest electric vehicle of any kind ever constructed.

The aluminium catamaran has an energy storage system linked to 8 electric-driven water jets, and its capacity is 4 times bigger than any earlier maritime installation.

The chairman of Incat, Robert Clifford, said that the company hopes to construct as many sustainable ships as possible, in Australia and overseas.

Incat’s chief executive, Stephen Casey, said that the Hull 096 proves that large-scale, low-emission transport solutions are not only possible but are ready now.

The vessel was originally named China Zorilla and was to be LNG powered, however, it was reconfigured to battery power.

Ferries play an important role in meeting the rising demands for environmentally sustainable transport options, and ship electrification can enable the sector to transition towards zero emissions, stated Wartsila Marine President Roger Holm.

References: The Guardian, Barron’s

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