Incat's Hull 096 battery‑electric ferry departs Tasmania for South America

Australian shipbuilder Incat has loaded Hull 096, the world’s largest battery‑electric ship, onto the heavy‑lift vessel Black Marlin in Hobart. The 130‑metre, 2,100‑passenger ferry was ballasted, lifted and sea‑fastened in a coordinated operation on the River Derwent and left Tasmania on 5 August 2026 for a roughly 40‑day voyage to South America.

Hull 096 is destined for ferry operator Buquebus and will be commissioned for service across the Río de la Plata between Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Colonia, Uruguay. Incat President Robert Clifford said the launch marks a milestone for sustainable maritime transport and showcases the viability of large‑scale zero‑emission ferries.