Incat Tasmania to double shipbuilding capacity

The company says its expansion plans have taken a major step forward with the Tasmanian shipbuilder acquiring a portion of the Norske Skog Boyer Mill site at Boyer.

Incat CEO Stephen Casey says the new site is an exciting prospect for the future of the Tasmanian shipbuilder.

“Incat is leading the industry by building the world’s largest electric ferry, and our goal over the next 5-10 years is to build on that success and produce multiple electric ships for the global market while expanding our workforce,” said Incat CEO Stephen Casey. “The new production facility is vital for us to achieve that.

“The new site, which already has the appropriate industrial zoning, will allow us to construct hulls and decks for our vessels at Boyer and then transport the structure down the River Derwent to our existing Prince of Wales Bay shipyard to be completed. This will streamline our vessel construction process and enhance our ability to produce multiple ships per year for the market.”

“I predict more than 1,000 new sustainable ships will be needed to satisfy the global market over the next decade,” said Incat Chairman Robert Clifford. “Domestically there will be a need for more vessels in locations such as Sydney Harbour, and in Europe there will be a need for much larger vessels of up to 170 metres in length with the capacity to carry up to 1,000 passengers.”

Vessel construction is due to begin at the new facility in 2026.