Latest news with #Incat
ABC News
23-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Danish operator orders two electric ferries from Incat amid plans to expand the Tasmanian company
Tasmania-based shipbuilder Incat has been commissioned to design and build two new electric ferries for Danish operator Molslinjen, to run on one of Europe's busiest routes. Incat said the order for the two 129-metre, 45-megawatt vessels formed the largest individual export contract for a manufactured good in Tasmania's history. The cost of the ferries has not be disclosed. Each ferry will each carry up to 1,483 passengers and 500 cars, and will operate at speeds over of 40 knots across the Kattegat Sea between Jutland and Zealand in Denmark. Incat founder and chairman Robert Clifford said the order marked "a turning point not just for Incat but the for the global maritime industry". "This project aligns perfectly with our strategic vision. "As global demand for sustainable ferries accelerates, our expanded facilities will ensure we're ready to lead the way in both innovation and volume." Incat plans to expand its production facilities in Hobart's Prince of Wales Bay, as well as build a new facility further up the Derwent River. It aims to double its production capacity and workforce over the next three years. The Hobart-based company was established in 1977, and has since become an industry leader in building lightweight catamarans. More recently, it has branched out into electric passenger ferries. Incat managing director Craig Clifford, who also serves as the honorary consul for Denmark in Tasmania, said the partnership reflected "a shared commitment to the green transition". The order follows the launch in May of Incat's latest vessel HSC China Zorrilla — the world's largest electric vehicle. Launched in May, the ferry — also known as Hull 096 — has the largest electric battery ever installed on a ship, and will run on a roughly 55-kilometre route across the Rio de la Plata for operator Buquebus, between the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires and Montevideo in Uruguay. The ferry has the capacity to carry over 2,000 passengers and is equipped with more than 5,000 battery modules stacked together, weighing a total of 280 tonnes and delivering 43-megawatt hours. It was described as the "future of sea shipping" by Mr Clifford, and a milestone in the industry's bid to decarbonise. Electric maritime vessels are dependent on short journeys and ports with adequate charging infrastructure and renewable energy resources. To address the lack of charging infrastructure globally, Incat is also building a diesel-electric hybrid ferry which will be designed so that it can be retrofitted to become fully electric. Mr Clifford told ABC Breakfast he anticipated demand for electric ferries to grow. "There's not the slightest doubt that 1,000 ships are needed in the very near future, electric ships, to replace the fossil fuel ships — no question of that," he said. "We can do it in Tasmania; it won't be without challenges. Mr Clifford said the Hobart shipbuilder was uniquely placed to meet demand for large electric ferries compared to other international major shipbuilders due to his team's specialisation in working with aluminium. "Aluminium and electricity go together because … a lightweight ship takes a lot less power and electricity is in scarce supply at all the ports." "So, the ship that takes the least electricity will get the orders. "We should be able to bring out at least four ships a year," Mr Clifford said. Incat said early-stage construction of the two new ferries would begin in the coming months, and it aimed to deliver them in late 2027.
ABC News
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- ABC News
Incat signs deal to build two electric ferries bound for Denmark
Incat has just signed the biggest contract in the company's history, according to founder and chair Robert Clifford, for two electric ferries bound for Denmark. The ships are 129-metres long and hold approximately 500 cars and 1,400 passengers each. Speaking on Hobart Breakfast, Clifford claims that the need for electric vehicles will continue to grow, and while building them in Tasmania will be possible, it will require training more people. "There's very very few people in the world that have the skill to build aluminium ships. ... The expertise in the major shipyards is just not there. "No doubt we can do it here. There will be limits ... but we certainly can build up to multiple numbers, five to ten times larger than we are today." Incat is currently building electric ferries at Prince of Wales Bay, but are planning new facilities at Sorell Creek where they hope to build four ships per year.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Shipbuilder quietly launches massive vessel with mission to reshape global travel: 'We're building the future'
Australian shipbuilder Incat has launched a first-of-its-kind electric ship that reaches over 420 feet in length and holds over 250 tons of batteries. This is a significant milestone in reducing the planet-harming pollution that comes from shipping and accounts for 2.9% of global pollution caused by humans. Stephen Casey, Incat's CEO, said at the unveiling of the ship, per Electrek: "We're not just building a ship — we're building the future." The vessel, dubbed the China Zorrilla, "proves that large-scale, low-emission transport solutions are not only possible, they are ready now." Electrek reported that the company built the vessel for the South American ferry operator Buquebus. The China Zorrilla will be able to carry 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles. Buquebus makes transport for travelers from Buenos Aires to Uruguay multiple times a day, meaning this electric vessel will dramatically cut down the impact of traditional ship and air travel. The China Zorrilla comes at a time when vessels like megayachts are facing criticism for their unparalleled environmental impact. Megayachts can emit over 22,000 tons of harmful carbon pollution per year. Other forms of transport, like air travel, make up another 2.5% of global pollution. Meanwhile, cars account for about 10% of global pollution. Incat's new fully electric ship means that travelers who may have once opted for personal yachts, commercial flights, or traditional travel by car now have the option to travel internationally fully electric. The benefits of electric ships are many. One article revealed that it is the oil and fuel pollution from boats and ships that pollute our waterways with everyday oil leaks, refueling, and engine pollution. Pollution in our waterways leads to public health impacts, such as damage to our drinking water and food supply. When compared to electric ships, such issues are nearly nonexistent. "Electric boats do not require any fuel and very little oil, so they are far less likely to cause any harm to wildlife or water users, making them a great way to significantly reduce water pollution," according to Electric Boats. The ship "represents a giant leap forward in sustainable shipping," said Robert Clifford, Incat's chairman, per Electrek. To Incat, it's not just a step forward for the company — "but for the future of maritime transport." Would you buy an EV if it only took 5 minutes to charge? Sign me up No way Depends on the cost Depends how much range it has Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Business Insider
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Insider
Electric ships are here — but they won't be crossing oceans yet
Electric shipping has reached a major milestone, but long-haul routes remain a distant dream. This month Australian shipbuilder Incat launched Hull 096, a 427-foot fully electric ferry built for South American operator Buquebus. The vessel, now docked in Hobart, Tasmania, is the largest electric vehicle ever built. It is designed to carry 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles across the Río de la Plata between Buenos Aires and Uruguay and is powered by about 275 tons of batteries. Incat's chairman and founder, Robert Clifford, said ships like Hull 096 are still best suited for short distances — not the open ocean. Density dilemma "There's not the slightest doubt that under 50 miles, electric will be virtually 100%," Clifford told Business Insider. "When you're talking 200 miles, it might only be 50%. Over that, it'd be zero at the moment." He said the main issue was the limited energy density of batteries, which still don't offer the same storage capacity per weight and volume as fossil fuels. That's why Incat is focusing on ferries for high-density, relatively short routes like those in the English Channel or the Baltic Sea instead of oceangoing ships. "We're ferry boat builders," Clifford said. "Even a very large ferry for most routes would not go over about 160 meters." Still, Clifford believes Hull 096 marks a turning point for clean maritime transport. "The ship changes the game," he said in a press release earlier this month. "We've been building world-leading vessels here in Tasmania for more than four decades, and Hull 096 is the most ambitious, most complex, and most important project we've ever delivered." The ferry boasts a 40 megawatt-hour battery — the largest installed on a ship — feeding eight waterjets designed by Finnish firm Wärtsilä. The interior, which includes a 2,300-square-meter duty-free shopping deck, is set to be completed this year ahead of trials on Tasmania's Derwent River. Buquebus had originally commissioned Hull 096 as a liquid natural gas-powered ferry, but Incat convinced the company to go electric. And while Clifford is bullish on the tech, he said real-world adoption depends on port infrastructure and customer readiness. "We simply need the shipowner to do their sums." He said there's been strong demand since Hull 096's launch and was in talks with a dozen "serious" clients from Europe and South America. "I've been in this entrepreneurial business for 30-odd years, and we've never had so many serious potential orders," he said. Growth challenge Still, scaling production in Tasmania is a massive leap. "We've been building one or two boats a year," Clifford said. "Building four or more large boats a year is a massive increase in the size of the company," which would require going from 500 to 3,000 staff, he said. "That's today's challenge — how do we transition to a significant shipbuilder?" Whether Tasmania becomes a global hub for electric shipbuilding remains to be seen. William "Boeing, for instance, had a small shipyard in Seattle," Clifford said. "It probably wasn't the best place in the world to start building airplanes. But he did, and then he sold 100 to the US Army. "He suddenly went from a small boat builder to a leading aircraft manufacturer all in a period of about a year or two. That sort of challenge is ahead of us."
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Incat unveils world's largest battery-electric vessel
Incat has launched its Hull 096, which is claimed to be the largest battery-electric ship in the world, at its Hobart shipyard in Australia. Constructed for the South American ferry operator Buquebus, the vessel's launch represents the ninth collaboration between Incat and Buquebus. At 130m long, Hull 096 is not only the largest electric ship but also the largest electric vehicle of its type ever constructed, according to the company. Hull 096 is set to operate on battery-electric power, facilitating the transport of up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles across the River Plate between Buenos Aires and Uruguay. The ship features more than 250 tonnes of batteries and an energy storage system (ESS) with an installed capacity exceeding 40MWh. The ESS is integrated with eight electric-driven waterjets developed in collaboration with technology partner Wartsila. Incat chairman Robert Clifford said: 'We've been building world-leading vessels here in Tasmania for more than four decades, and Hull 096 is the most ambitious, most complex, and most important project we've ever delivered. This ship changes the game.' Currently, efforts are focused on completing the interior of the vessel, which includes a 2,300m2 duty-free retail area, the largest shopping space on any ferry worldwide. The final stages of fit-out, battery installation, and energy system integration are scheduled to occur before sea trials later this year on the River Derwent. Incat CEO Stephen Casey said: 'Hull 096 proves that large-scale, low-emission transport solutions are not only possible, they are ready now. This is a proud day for Tasmania and for Australian manufacturing.' In December 2022, Incat Crowther delivered a new crew transfer vessel (CTV) to Goldsea Marine & Offshore Engineering in Shanghai. The Incat Crowther 32, built by AFAI Southern Shipyard in Guangzhou, China, features a spacious cargo area and can reach speeds of up to 25kt. "Incat unveils world's largest battery-electric vessel" was originally created and published by Ship Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
