The world largest battery electric ferry Hull 096 has arrived in Uruguay after travelling thousands of kilometres from Tasmania aboard a heavy lift transport vessel.
Built by Australian shipbuilder Incat for South American ferry operator Buquebus the 130 metre long ferry reached Nueva Palmira on September 11 aboard the MV Black Marlin. It was subsequently floated off the transport ship and will be towed to Colonia del Sacramento for final commissioning and testing.
The vessel which will operate under the name China Zorrilla is powered by more than 5,000 batteries with a combined capacity of 40 megawatt hours. Its battery system provides an operating endurance of about 90 minutes.
The aluminium ferry can carry up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles at the same time. It is equipped with eight electric waterjets, while its propulsion, control and manoeuvring systems have already undergone testing in Tasmania.
Buquebus plans to deploy the ferry on the Rio de la Plata between Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay and Buenos Aires, Argentina. The route covers about 30 nautical miles and takes approximately one hour, allowing the vessel to operate within its battery range. It is expected to make three crossings a day.
Hull 096 was originally commissioned in 2019, but construction was interrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The vessel was subsequently redesigned from diesel propulsion to a fully electric system. It was launched on Tasmania River Derwent in May 2025 and underwent testing and commissioning before being transported to South America.
The ferry left Tasmania in early August aboard the MV Black Marlin. The transport ship travelled past New Zealand across the Pacific Ocean and around Cape Horn before reaching Uruguay.
Buquebus will now complete the vessel’s final commissioning before it enters passenger service. Incat is also constructing three additional electric ferries for Danish operator Molslinjen.