World's largest battery-electric ship arrives in South America after voyage from Tasmania

Hull 096, the world's largest battery-electric ship, was built by Tasmanian shipbuilder Incat in Hobart and shipped to South America on the deck of the heavy-lift transporter MV Black Marlin, leaving Tasmania in early August and reaching Uruguay on 11 September 2026. It was welcomed at a ceremony in Nueva Palmira and floated off over the weekend. The 130-metre aluminium ferry carries 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles on more than 5,000 battery modules, and will run the hour-long crossing between Colonia del Sacramento and Buenos Aires. Commissioned as a diesel ship in 2019, it was redesigned as fully electric after a pandemic pause in production.

The ship made the journey as cargo, not under its own power. It is being towed to Colonia del Sacramento for commissioning, and Buquebus has to test its systems before it enters service. Its batteries hold about 90 minutes of running.