The Australian shipyard Incat has launched the RoPax ferry “China Zorilla” in Tasmania.
The Hull 096 ferry, built for the South American ferry company Buquebus, is the largest battery-electric ship in the world at 130 m in length.
When the “China Zorilla” starts its service between Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Uruguay, it will carry up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles across the Río de la Plata.
“This is a historic day – not just for Incat, but for the future of maritime transportation,” said Incat Chairman Robert Clifford. “We’ve been building world-class vessels here in Tasmania for more than four decades, and the ‘Hull 096’ is the most ambitious, complex and important project we’ve ever delivered. This ship is a game changer.”
The vessel is the ninth built by Incat for Buquebus and continues the long-standing partnership between the two companies. “For me, it is a true source of pride to see Buquebus’ vision come to life,” said Buquebus President Juan Carlos López Mena.
Incat ferry was originally planned with LNG propulsion
“When we were looking at this new ship, Robert Clifford said to me: ‘The next ship I deliver to you will be 100% electric’. I replied: ‘Then the next ship must be the one we are putting into service today. And with great courage he said: ‘Together we will make history’. So we started converting the ‘China Zorrilla’, which was originally planned to run on liquid gas, into an all-electric ship.”
Jeremy Rockliff, Premier of Tasmania, congratulated Clifford and the team at Incat for the exceptional craftsmanship and innovation that went into building the world’s largest battery electric vessel: “Through hard work, determination and ingenuity, Incat has built a globally significant battery electric vessel from its shipyard in Tasmania.”
Incat epitomizes what it means to be Tasmanian as they quietly pursue the extraordinary, strengthen the Tasmanian brand on the world stage and continue to support Tasmanian jobs and our economy. “Tasmania has long been a leader in maritime innovation, and Incat’s latest achievement is a testament to our state’s world-class shipbuilding capabilities and proud seafaring tradition,” Rockliff added.
Installed batteries: 250 tons
The ship is equipped with over 250 tons of batteries and an energy storage system (ESS) with an installed capacity of more than 40 MWh. According to Incat, this makes the ESS four times larger than any other maritime installation in the world. It is connected to eight electrically driven water jets and is supplied by leading technology partner Wärtsilä. According to the shipyard, this technology combination sets a new global benchmark for the shipping industry.
“We are proud to have launched the world’s largest battery electric vessel together with Incat and Buquebus,” says Roger Holm, President of Wärtsilä Marine and Executive Vice President of Wärtsilä Corporation. “Ferries have an important role to play in meeting the growing demand for environmentally sustainable transportation, with the electrification of vessels a key solution for the sector’s transition to net zero emissions.”
“We’re not just building a ship – we’re building the future,” said Stephen Casey, CEO of Incat. “Hull 096 proves that low emission transportation solutions at scale are not only possible, they are ready now. This is a proud day for Tasmania and for Australian industry.”
World’s largest shopping area on ferry
Work will now continue with the interior fit-out of the vessel, which will include a 2,300m2 duty-free retail deck – the world’s largest shopping area on a ferry. The final outfitting, installation of batteries and integration of the energy system will take place before sea trials on the River Derwent later this year.
At 130 meters in length, “Hull 096” is not only the largest electric vessel in the world, but also the largest electric vessel of its kind ever built – and one of the most significant single exports in the history of Australian industry. “This vessel puts Tasmania and Australia firmly on the world stage,” Clifford added. “We are incredibly proud of what our team has achieved – and this is just the beginning.”
