Incat’s Hull 096, the world’s largest battery-electric ship, has been moved to Macquarie Wharf in Hobart ahead of a major operation to load it onto a heavy lift vessel bound for South America.
The catamaran was relocated on Saturday from Incat’s shipyard at Prince of Wales Bay to its temporary berth, where it will await the arrival of the Black Marlin.
The Black Marlin recently stopped in Melbourne to refuel and is expected to arrive on the River Derwent on Tuesday afternoon.
Loading of Hull 096 is currently planned for Thursday, though timings could change depending on weather and operational needs.
At 217 metres long and 42 metres wide, the Black Marlin is capable of carrying some of the world’s largest marine structures and will be one of the biggest vessels ever to enter the River Derwent.
As a semi-submersible heavy lift ship, the Black Marlin can submerge its cargo deck beneath the waterline by taking on ballast water.
Hull 096 will then be manoeuvred into position above the submerged deck before the water is pumped out, lifting the cargo deck clear of the surface.
Incat Chairman Robert Clifford said the arrival of the Black Marlin would mark another major step in one of the most groundbreaking shipbuilding projects in the world.
“Watching it load Hull 096 will be a spectacular sight and a proud moment for Tasmania,” he said.
“Very few people ever get the chance to see an operation like this up close.”
Once delivered, the vessel will be known as the China Zorrilla and operated by Buquebus on the River Plate between Buenos Aires in Argentina and Colonia in Uruguay.
It will carry up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles, powered by over 250 tonnes of batteries and eight electric waterjets.
The ship also features a 2,300 square metre duty-free retail shopping deck.
Originally designed for liquefied natural gas, the vessel was converted fully to electric, marking a major shift toward zero-emission maritime transport.
Exclusion zones will be in place on the water during the loading operation, with restrictions also applying to drone use.
Incat said it would provide updates as plans are confirmed over the coming days.
