Buquebus to swap LNG-powered ferry orders for batteries

Australian shipbuilder Incat Tasmania is in discussions with Argentine ferry operator Buquebus to switch its order for LNG-powered vessels to all-electric battery systems.

PHOTO: A 130-metre RoPax built by Incat Australia could become the world's largest battery-powered ferry. Incat Tasmania

One RoPax vessel is scheduled to be delivered in 2025 and will have the capacity to carry 2,100 passengers and 226 cars. It could become be the world's largest zero-emission ferry, the companies claim.

“Obviously, there needs to be sufficient energy supply in the ports that the ship would visit but we understand that this is progressing positively,” Incat Group chairman and founder Robert Clifford said about the battery-electric propulsion.

The shipbuilder was contracted last August to deliver the LNG-powered ferries.

By Debarati Bhattacharjee

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