WATCH: Rollback completed for largest battery ferries in Europe

The shipbuilder Incat has finished the rollback of the hull of the first of the vessels for Danish ferry operator Molslinjen, as the video shows.

The rollback, which involves repositioning the partially completed hull within the shipyard, allows construction to progress with the installation of the vessel’s passenger deck superstructures.

Hull 102 is one of three 129m battery-electric ferries being built under contract for Molslinjen. The vessels are intended to operate on the operator’s Kattegat routes in Denmark as part of its fleet decarbonisation programme.

“This is an important milestone, not just for this vessel, but for the entire programme,” said Incat chairman Robert Clifford.

“The successful completion of today’s rollback is a credit to our workforce. It was a complex operation carried out with professionalism and precision, and it highlights the capability and commitment of our team.”

According to Incat, the ferries will be the largest battery-electric vessels operating in Europe when they enter service.

Battery-electric ferries have become an increasingly common feature of European short-sea transport, particularly in Norway, where government policy, abundant electricity and frequent, relatively short ferry crossings have supported rapid adoption.

The world’s first fully battery-electric car ferry, Ampere, entered service in Norway in 2015, and the country now operates around 70 battery-electric ferries, which is more than half of its ferry fleet.

Scandinavia is taking the lead across Europe: other countries, including Denmark, Sweden and Finland, have also introduced battery-electric ferries on suitable routes. Most operate on short crossings where vessels can recharge at each terminal, making battery propulsion a practical alternative to conventional diesel engines.