World's Largest Electric Ferry Makes History in Hobart

Workers at a Hobart shipyard stepped out of their facilities Friday morning to witness something the maritime world has been waiting years to see: the largest electric ferry ever built gliding across the water under its own power.

The massive vessel, named China Zorrilla after a beloved Uruguayan actress, stretches 130 metres long and can carry 2,100 passengers plus 225 vehicles. More than 5,000 batteries weighing 260 tonnes give it enough juice to run for 90 minutes on a single charge.

Built by Tasmania's Incat over two years, the ferry will soon operate between Montevideo, Uruguay and Buenos Aires, Argentina. The 30-nautical-mile journey across the Rio de la Plata takes just over an hour, fitting perfectly within the ship's battery range.

The ferry will make three trips daily between the capitals, replacing diesel-powered vessels on one of South America's busiest routes. Each crossing will produce zero emissions while moving thousands of people across the water.

Tom Cooper, Incat's corporate affairs manager, said watching the ship move brought "a big sigh of relief" and "massive sense of pride" to the team. After more than two years of construction, their ambitious gamble on electric propulsion had paid off.

The Ripple Effect

This isn't just one ship. It's proof that large-scale electric ferry transport actually works in the real world.

The maritime industry has watched this project closely, waiting to see if battery technology could handle vessels this size. Friday's successful sea trials answered that question with a resounding yes.

As climate concerns push transportation toward cleaner solutions, this ferry shows that zero-emission ocean travel can work on routes where charging infrastructure makes sense. Short, frequent crossings like the Montevideo-Buenos Aires run are perfect candidates for electric conversion.

The vessel still has more testing ahead before a massive heavy-lift ship arrives in February or March to carry it to South America. That 28-day journey will be carefully managed by maritime authorities to ensure safe passage.

Once it starts regular service across the Rio de la Plata, thousands of daily passengers will experience emissions-free travel between two major capitals. The future of cleaner ocean transport just sailed a little closer to reality.