Incat Tasmania says it has achieved a defining moment in maritime history, as the largest battery-electric ship ever constructed was powered up and successfully completed its first e-motor trial in Hobart, Tasmania.
Hull 096 – the world’s largest battery-electric ship and the largest electric vehicle of any type – is capable of carrying 2,100 passengers and more than 220 vehicles. The shipyard recently activated the largest battery-electric propulsion system installed on a ship for the first time.
In front of invited dignitaries, Incat Chairman Robert Clifford powered up the waterjets and delivered a demonstration of the vessel’s propulsion capability. The achievement is the first time a ship of this size, weight, and passenger-vehicle capacity has operated solely on battery power. Designed and built in Hobart, the vessel is said to represent a leap forward in advanced manufacturing and to confirm Tasmania’s position at the forefront of the global transition to sustainable shipbuilding.
Powered by a bank of batteries weighing more than 250t, the vessel’s Energy Storage System delivers over 40MWh of installed capacity – four times larger than any previous maritime battery installation.
Clifford said: “This is the first time a ship of this size, anywhere in the world, has been trialled under 100% battery-electric propulsion. It’s a remarkable achievement by our workforce and a turning point for shipbuilding. Tasmania has been at the forefront of international aluminium shipbuilding for decades, and today’s milestone shows we are now leading the world in the next era – sustainable, high-performance vessels at scale. We are proving that advanced manufacturing in Australia is not only alive but setting global benchmarks. This ship will stand as a flagship for what’s possible when industry, design, and clean-energy technology come together.”
The test was the first in a series of trials for the ground-breaking ferry before it departs for South America.
Image: Incat Hull 096 powers up for the first time (source: Incat Tasmania)
