Incat Tasmania, the Australian shipbuilder that’s leading the world in pure-electric, lightweight, zero-emission ferries, has started construction of the world’s largest and lightest battery electric ship for delivery to its South American customer, Buquebus.
The ship—at 130 meters long—will be the world’s largest 100% battery-electric Ro-Pax ferry. The energy storage system (ESS) battery storage at over 40MWh will be four times larger than any battery installation constructed and installed anywhere in the world for the marine transport environment.
The batteries power a series of E-motors, which drive the water jet propulsion system. The electrical system integration is by Wärtsilä, and the ESS is by Corvus Energy.
Interest in battery-electric ships has been positive, and Incat is now working toward constructing its second, albeit smaller battery-electric vehicle/passenger ferry.
“We are proud to be building this first-in-class ship in Tasmania for Buquebus, who, like us, shares a vision to be at the leading edge of low-emission shipping in the world. Incat has always been an innovator, and once again, we are leading the world, and the world is taking notice. This worldwide interest in Incat’s capabilities to deliver electric ships is a great opportunity for Tasmania, and we expect this interest to magnify. We are already increasing our workforce and have finalized plans to recruit at least another 200 employees over the next 12 months with the expectation that our workforce will more than double in coming years,” said Incat Founder Robert Clifford.
Incat managing director Craig Clifford shared, “The build of the Buquebus ship is leading the world in this type of ship construction and will have leading-edge technology in terms of zero emissions propulsion and storage systems. Once in operation, the shore-side charging systems will have 50% more capacity than any current installation worldwide. The world’s first Incat Hull 096 will have a capacity for 2100 passengers and crew, 225 cars, and will also include a duty-free shop of over 2,000 square meters on one level.”
Net zero achieved in Tasmania
“The feedback from overseas has been extraordinarily positive. I expect we will see many more battery electric ships built here at Incat in Tasmania. The opportunities for jobs and investment here in Tasmania are exceptional. The Australian Federal Government has a clear plan for decarbonizing the economy, and with 100% renewable energy and already net zero emissions having been achieved here in Tasmania, we are ideally placed to build zero-emission ships for the world right here. In fact, due to Tasmania already having achieved overall net zero emissions, we are the only location on the planet that can construct zero-emission, battery electric ships in an already net zero emissions environment for our customers,” Robert Clifford added.
Incat’s strength as a world-leading builder of lightweight vessels positions the company to lead the electric revolution. Constructing in marine-grade aluminum means the ships are lighter than an equivalent-size steel ship and, hence, require far less power for propulsion. The energy level can be utilized for more excellent range at slower or higher speeds on shorter routes. Aluminum is lightweight without sacrificing strength. It’s one-third the weight of steel. However, after design factors, the finished weight of an Incat aluminum ship will be around half that of steel.
Incat is currently 100% export-focused. The 130-meter ferry will operate in Argentina. Large Ro-Pax vessels up to 112 meters in length operate in waters around Europe, the United Kingdom, Asia, and South America.
Corvus Energy, the world’s leading provider of zero-emission solutions for the maritime industry, was selected by technology group Wärtsilä to supply the battery systems for the Ro-Pax ferry.
With more than 40 MWh of energy storage, it will be the largest battery system installed onboard a ship—four times as big as the current largest installation.
Incat shipyard in Tasmania will build the aluminum-constructed vessel on behalf of its South American customer, Buquebus.
The groundbreaking project marks a turning point in the maritime industry’s effort to transition towards greener means of transportation. Combining cutting-edge technology, environmental consciousness, and innovative design redefines the future of ferry operations worldwide and paves the way for other large, zero-emission vessels,” said Halvard Hauso, commercial director for Europe of Corvus Energy.
Longest high-speed zero-emission journey
This vessel will be the largest of its type with the highest ESS capacity, and it will also have the longest zero-emission journey at the highest speed and will be charged with the world’s highest capacity chargers.
Hauso also shared that the ferry will be South America’s first fully electric vessel, operating between Argentina and Uruguay. He also cites the significance of this milestone as a positive indicator of the increasing adoption of maritime electrification and that the project demonstrates that “maritime decarbonization is now happening worldwide.”
The project is made possible by Corvus’ latest technological breakthrough—the lightweight battery Dolphin NextGen. The design is based on the architecture of the 4-year, multi-million development program for the Corvus Blue Whale ESS. The Blue Whale development included a ground-up redesign that reevaluated and improved every aspect of battery design, including battery chemistry, mechanical and electrical design, and software building blocks. The Dolphin NextGen ESS is a game changer for marine battery projects due to its low weight and volumetric density, robustness, and unsurpassed flexibility.
The battery systems are scheduled for delivery end of 2024, and the vessel will enter operation in 2025. (Story and photos courtesy of Incat Tasmania and Corvus Energy)