All electric ferry "a game-changer"
Tasmanian shipbuilder Incat has the electric ship under construction for South American customer, Buquebus (Source: Incat)
Corvus Energy, Wärtsilä, and Incat have released details of what they claim will be the world’s first zero-emission, electric, lightweight RoPax ferry. The 130m-long catamaran is currently under construction at Incat in Tasmania, Australia. Due for delivery in 2025, the vessel will have 40 MWh of energy storage, four times more than any current installation, the companies said in a statement.
The catamaran vessel, being built for South American ferry company, Buquebus, will be deployed on a 45-nautical-mile route across the River Plate between Argentina and Uruguay. Powered by eight water jets, it will have capacity for 2,100 passengers and crew, as well as 225 cars.
Corvus Energy’s lightweight Dolphin NextGen Energy Storage System is a major advance on existing battery systems due to its low weight, high volumetric density, and operating flexibility, the company claimed. The batteries, which will be delivered to the shipyard at the end of 2024, will not be arranged in racks but in four separate battery rooms on board the ferry.
Wärtsilä will supply its proprietary energy management system, the power conversion system, the DC shore-charging system, the 40-MWh battery modules, the DC hub, the eight electric motors, eight axial flow WXJ1100 water jets, and the ProTouch propulsion control system. Commenting on the scope of supply, Roger Holm, president of Wärtsilä’s Marine Power business, said: "The overall high-efficiency of this next-generation ferry represents a game-changing advance in catamaran design. We are proud to have contributed our strong know-how in integrating our ship electrification solutions and propulsion equipment."
Incat Founder, Robert Clifford, added, "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 just finalised plans for the recruitment of at least another 200 employees over the next twelve months, with the expectation that our workforce will more than double in the coming years."
