Shipbuilder Incat has loaded its battery-electric ferry, Hull 096, onto the heavy-lift vessel Black Marlin in Tasmania ahead of delivery to South America.

The heavy-lift vessel is scheduled to depart Hobart in the coming days, Incat announced in a press release on Friday.

The loading operation took place on the River Derwent, where Black Marlin was lowered into the water using its ballast tanks. Hull 096 was then maneuvered into position over the ship's submerged cargo deck. Black Marlin is now being refloated, lifting the ferry clear of the water before it is secured for transport.

Hull 096 was constructed at Incat's Hobart shipyard for South American ferry operator Buquebus, which provides passenger and vehicle ferry services connecting Buenos Aires, Argentina, with Montevideo and Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay. Incat, a specialist in high-speed aluminum catamaran ferries, describes the vessel as the world's largest battery-electric ship.

The delivery marks a notable step in the maritime sector's broader push toward decarbonization, as shipping companies and shipyards explore battery-electric and alternative-fuel technologies to reduce emissions. The International Maritime Organization has set targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping, and ferry operators on short routes have been among the earliest adopters of electrified vessels given the relatively limited distances involved.

"This is an extraordinary moment, not just for Incat, but for the future of sustainable maritime transport," said Robert Clifford, Chairman of Incat. "For years we've watched this vessel evolve from an idea into reality, and today we've reached another incredible milestone in the most significant project in Incat's history."

Upon arrival in South America, Hull 096 will be offloaded and undergo final commissioning before entering service with Buquebus.