China Zorrilla (ship)
 China Zorrilla at the Incat shipyard
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Uruguay | |
| Name | China Zorrilla |
| Namesake | China Zorrilla, Uruguayan actor |
| Owner | 2025-present : Buquebus |
| Route | Buenos Aires—Colonia del Sacramento (55 km)[1] |
| Builder | Incat, Hobart, Tasmania |
| Yard number | 096 |
| Launched | 2 May 2025 |
| In service | late 2025 (scheduled) |
| Homeport | Montevideo, Uruguay |
| Status | Under construction |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 14,000 GT |
| Length | 130 m (430 ft) |
| Propulsion | 40 MWh battery, 8× electric motor & waterjet |
| Speed | 25 kn (46 km/h)[2] |
| Capacity | 225 cars and 2,100 passengers |
China Zorrilla is an electric roll-on/roll-off catamaran ferry, scheduled to commence operation by Buquebus on the River Plate between Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay and Buenos Aires, Argentina.[3]
It was built in Hobart, Tasmania by Incat Tasmania and launched in May 2025. It is the largest fully electric ship, and largest battery electric vehicle of any kind, in the world.[4]
History
Incat's existing relationship with Buquebus has involved construction and delivery of the catamaran ferry HSC Francisco to Buquebus in 2013.[5]
Buquebus originally commissioned Incat to deliver a new ship to use dual-fuel propulsion, capable of operating on LNG and diesel.[6] In 2023, Buquebus and Incat renegotiated their agreement, and revised the specification to make the ship fully battery-electric.[7]
It was launched at Incat's facility on the Derwent River on 2 May 2025.[4]
Design
The aluminium vessel measures 130 metres (430 ft) in length and is designed to carry up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles. Its propulsion system comprises eight electric 2.2 MW waterjets powered by a 40 MWh battery system, weighing over 250 tonnes. This system, supplied by Finnish company Wärtsilä,[2] features the largest battery ever installed on a ship, enabling the ferry to operate entirely on electric power.[8] Incat states that the weight of the batteries is lighter than the equivalent diesel engines and associated components.[9] Parts of the route is only 2.5 meters shallow water, requiring low weight and smaller waterjets.[10]
The ferry is equipped with a 2,300 square meter duty-free shopping area, the largest retail space on any ferry globally.[11]
The ferry is scheduled to ride on a heavy-lift ship from Tasmania to Uruguay.[9]
Operation
The ferry recharges for 1—1.5 hours at the company's charge point in each port, using 8kA AC / 16kA DC.[12][9] The electricity sector in Uruguay has 98% renewable power,[13] while the electricity sector in Argentina has 25% hydropower, 15% wind&solar, and 10% nuclear power.
References
- ^ Otero, Alejandra (5 May 2025). "El ferry eléctrico más grande del mundo es el 'China Zorrilla': un gigante con baterías equivalentes a más de 800 coches eléctricos y que empezará a llevar pasajeros este mismo año". Motorpasión (in Spanish).
- ^ a b "What will power the world's largest zero-emissions, lightweight catamaran ferry?". Wärtsilä. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
- ^ "Buquebus, Banco Santander, and IFC sign financing for the world's largest electric ferry on the Argentina-Uruguay route". IFC.
- ^ a b "World's largest '100 per cent electric' ship launched by Tasmanian builder Incat". ABC News. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
- ^ "Incat's Dual-Fuel Ferry 'Francisco' the Fastest in the World". offshore.energy.biz. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ "Incat reveals design and technology behind Buquebus' second LNG ferry". Riviera Maritime. 31 March 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ "World's largest battery electric vessel is set for 2025 delivery". MarineLog.com. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ "'World's largest' electric ship measuring 130 metres launched by Tasmanian boatbuilder". The Guardian. 2 May 2025.
- ^ a b c "Building the world's largest electric ferry". ABC News. 21 February 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
Ironically, compared to a traditional diesel engine with fuel tanks, it's slightly lighter. We're actually saving weight. the modules actually go together.
- ^ "Interview". Everything Electric.
6-9 mins (Bob Clifford)
- ^ "Incat completes hull of huge electric vessel". Australian Manufacturing Forum. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
- ^ "Zinus to power groundbreaking fully electric Ferry". Shippax. 21 December 2023.
- ^ Machado, Alicia (5 August 2025). "Uruguay Energy". www.trade.gov.
Today, over 98 percent of Uruguay's electricity is generated from hydro, wind, solar, and biomass