World’s largest electric ship hits safety milestone ahead of launch

The Hull 096, currently under construction by Australian shipbuilder Incat, is set to become the world’s largest battery-electric ship when it enters service in 2026. This 130-meter roll-on/roll-off passenger catamaran ferry is powered entirely by electricity, carrying 250 tons of batteries with a combined capacity of 40 megawatts—equivalent to powering nearly 500 Tesla electric vehicles. The vessel can transport 225 vehicles and 2,100 passengers, propelled by eight Wärtsilä waterjets that enable a top speed of 29 mph (46 kph). It marks a significant milestone in maritime transport as the largest battery-EV ship ever built, shifting from an original plan to use liquefied natural gas to full battery-electric propulsion. A key safety milestone was recently achieved with the successful deployment of the Marine Evacuation System (MES) supplied by Liferaft Systems Australia. Six 22-meter MES units, supported by 13 linked life rafts