Incat powers ahead with electric ferry builds

The Hobart-based shipyard currently has five large aluminium vessels in production, including what has been called the world’s largest battery-electric ferry, launched earlier this year.

Hull 096, a 130-metre catamaran, can carry 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles across the River Plate between Argentina and Uruguay, powered entirely by clean energy.

“Nowhere else in the world is an aluminium shipyard building such a concentration of large electric and hybrid-electric vessels,” said Incat chairman, Robert Clifford.

“This programme highlights our world-leading innovation and shipbuilding capability and it’s why major operators are choosing Incat to deliver their future ferry fleets.”

 Rising demand

Incat reports that progress is also being made on Hulls 100 and 101, a pair of 78-metre hybrid-electric ferries designed for maximum flexibility, capable of switching between hybrid and full electric vessel propulsion.

Meanwhile, two 129-metre battery-electric ferries for Danish operator Molslinjen will soon become the largest zero-emission ferries in Europe.

Incat said it is scaling up its workforce and shipyard capacity to meet rising global demand, aiming to deliver multiple sustainable aluminium ferries annually.

By combining advanced vessel propulsion technologies with lightweight aluminium design, the shipbuilder said it is helping prove that zero-emission shortsea shipping is both commercially viable and globally scalable.