Hull 096 arrives in Uruguay: World's largest battery-electric ferry reaches South America

The vessel, designated Hull 096, was officially welcomed at a ceremony in Nueva Palmira on Monday, September 14, 2026. Built by Incat for South American transport company Buquebus, the ferry has completed its journey from Hobart to Uruguay. It arrived off the Uruguayan coast aboard the heavy-lift transporter MV Black Marlin after navigating thousands of kilometres, including passage through the Strait of Magellan and around Cape Horn. Hull 096 departed Tasmania in early August following a multi-day loading operation at Hobart's River Derwent that local officials called one of the most complex marine undertakings in Tasmania's history. The ship is designed to serve Buquebus on a thirty-nautical-mile route along the Rio de la Plata connecting Colonia del Sacramento and Buenos Aires, carrying up to 2,100 passengers. Following its arrival in South America, the vessel will be towed by tugboats to Colonia del Sacramento where commissioning work begins. Incat described the event as a significant milestone. Buquebus confirmed Hull 096 was the world's largest battery-electric vehicle.