Australian boat builders have unveiled Hull 096, which is the largest battery-powered vessel in the world. Manufactured by Tasmanian company Incat, the vessel measures 130 meters in length.
Launched last Friday in Hobart, Hull 096 operates under the name China Zorira and can hold about 2,100 passengers along with 225 vehicles. The ship is named in honor of Uruguayan film and theater stars.
This battery-electric ferry will connect the city of Uruguay with two other towns in the region and extend its service to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.
The ship’s interior is still a work in progress, but it features a duty-free shopping deck that sprawls over 2,300 square meters—about the size of an average Australian home.
Hull 096 houses more than 250 tons of batteries and employs an energy storage system (ESS) with a capacity exceeding 40 megawatt hours. This ESS is significantly larger than earlier maritime installations and powers eight electric water jets.
The battery enables the ship to operate for 90 minutes. When fully finished, Inca claims it will boast the largest shopping area found on any ship globally.
Beyond being the largest electric vessel, Hull 096 is considered the “largest electric vehicle ever built” within its 130-meter category.
Incat’s representatives emphasized that with over four decades of experience in crafting world-class ships in Tasmania, Hull 096 represents their most ambitious, complex, and significant project to date.
According to Clifford, Incat aims to develop as many sustainable ships as possible for both the local and international markets.
Stephen Casey, CEO of Incat, remarked that Hull 096 demonstrates the feasibility of large-scale, low-emission transportation solutions, which are available now.
Tasmanian Prime Minister Jeremy Lockliff stated that Australia is taking a leading role in advancing zero-emission technologies for new electric vessels.
