Posted on September 24, 2025
Incat Tasmania, a renowned company for constructing high-speed lightweight catamarans, is leading the charge in the world’s most cutting-edge aluminium electric shipbuilding project, with five eco-friendly aluminium vessels currently being crafted. All of these ships are being built at the company’s Hobart facility, which proudly stands as the only major shipyard in the world operating in a net-zero environment.
Construction is moving along on Hulls 100 and 101, which are two impressive 78-meter hybrid-electric ferries. These vessels are designed to be the next generation of ferries, making them some of the most advanced in the world. They can operate in both fully electric and hybrid modes, allowing them to adapt to a variety of service needs.
In May 2025, the company made waves in the electric shipbuilding world by delivering Hull 096, which was hailed as the largest battery-electric vessel on the planet. This 130-meter ship features a lightweight aluminium hull and is powered by a staggering 250 tonnes of batteries, boasting an installed capacity of over 40 MWh that drives eight electric water jets. Incat announced that this project was its most ambitious and intricate delivery to date, providing large-scale, low-emission maritime transport.
The firm is gearing up to deliver two impressive 129-meter battery-electric ferries to the Danish operator Molslinjen, exciting news for the maritime industry. These vessels are set to become the largest zero-emission ferries in Europe, further solidifying Tasmania’s reputation as a leading hub for clean-tech shipbuilding.
Robert Clifford, Chairman of Incat, stated, “Nowhere else in the world is an aluminium shipyard building such a concentration of large electric and hybrid-electric vessels. This program highlights our world-leading innovation and shipbuilding capability, and it’s why major operators are choosing Incat to deliver their future ferry fleets.”
The company is currently ramping up its workforce and boosting its shipyard capacity to keep up with the increasing global demand. With several vessels presently being built and a solid pipeline in place, the company is gearing up to deliver several sustainable, commercially viable aluminium ferries each year to international operators.
Incat’s top-notch build program highlights how aluminium shipbuilding can provide zero-emission solutions without compromising on speed, reliability, capacity, or commercial viability.
