After drawing large crowds on Friday during one of Tasmania’s most complex maritime operations, Incat’s record-breaking battery-electric ferry is set to leave Hobart this afternoon for its 40-day journey to South America.
The heavy-lift ship Black Marlin is expected to pull anchor from the River Derwent about 4pm with the 130-metre vessel secured to its cargo deck.
Tom Cooper, Incat head of public relations and corporate affairs, said crews had spent several days welding braces to secure the ferry to Black Marlin’s cargo deck ahead of the long ocean crossing.
“They’ve essentially got to weld a brace for the cargo deck of the Black Marlin and then get the same brace sort of welded onto Hull 096,” he told Pulse.
“So they’ve just been taking their time.”
“They haven’t really been in any mad rush to get out of here.”
The 130-metre catamaran cannot make the journey under its own power because its battery system provides only about 90 minutes of operating time.
Cooper said the ship would travel north of New Zealand before crossing the Pacific to Buenos Aires, with the voyage expected to take about 40 days depending on conditions.
“If it’s smooth sailing the whole way, they’ll get there a bit quicker,” he said.
“If it’s a bit rougher, they’ll slow down, just to be cautious.”
Some Incat workers are expected to head out for a final look as the vessel leaves the River Derwent.
Cooper said global interest in the project had exceeded the company’s expectations.
“We knew it was going to be a point of interest given this has never been done in the River Derwent before and given it’s the world’s largest electric ship,” he said.
“We didn’t think there’d be this much interest in it.”
The loading operation drew large crowds to the Tranmere and Howrah foreshores last week.
Once delivered, the vessel will operate as China Zorrilla for Buquebus, carrying up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles between Argentina and Uruguay.
Incat has three more large battery-electric ferries and two smaller hybrid-electric vessels under construction at its Prince of Wales Bay shipyard.
