Australian shipbuilder Incat Tasmania has completed the first battery-electric propulsion trial of the world’s largest battery-electric ship, marking a major milestone for zero-emission vessel development.
The vessel, Hull 096, was powered up on 14 December at Incat’s shipyard in Hobart and completed its first e-motor trial using battery power alone.
At 130 meters in length, the ship is the largest battery-electric vessel ever constructed and the largest electric vehicle of any kind globally.
The ferry is capable of carrying up to 2,100 passengers and more than 220 vehicles and is fitted with the largest battery-electric propulsion system ever installed on a ship. The energy storage system comprises more than 250 tonnes of batteries, delivering over 40 megawatt-hours of installed capacity—around four times larger than any previous maritime battery installation.
The trial was attended by Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff and the Governor of Tasmania, Barbara Baker. Incat chairman Robert Clifford powered up the vessel’s waterjets during the demonstration.
“This is the first time a ship of this size, anywhere in the world, has been trialled under 100 percent battery-electric propulsion. It’s a remarkable achievement by our workforce and a turning point for shipbuilding,” Clifford said.
The test marks the first in a series of sea and systems trials ahead of the vessel’s delivery to South America in the coming months.
