Incat Chairman Robert Clifford has stated that Tasmania is ‘uniquely positioned’ to capitalise on the rapidly growing international demand for large-scale electric ferries.
Clifford, who recently returned from the international Shippax Conference in Genoa, Italy – one of the world’s leading ferry and maritime conferences – has said that global ferry operators are ‘increasingly recognising’ that lightweight vessel construction will play a crucial role in the future of maritime electrification.
Incat Chairman Robert Clifford said:For decades Incat has demonstrated the advantages of lightweight aluminium shipbuilding, and as the global ferry industry moves toward electrification those advantages are becoming even more important.
The lighter the vessel, the less energy it requires to operate. That means lower power demand, improved efficiency, lower operating costs, and greater commercial flexibility for operators.
Electric shipbuilding is no longer a future concept, it is happening now, and operators around the world are looking very closely at the technologies and capabilities already being implemented here in Tasmania.
Incat recently completed construction on the world’s largest battery-electric ship, Hull 096, at its Prince of Wales Bay shipyard in Hobart, and is now progressing plans for a major expansion of its existing operations at the shipyard, including the construction of a third major production hall to increase capacity and support future growth.
Mr Clifford continued:The opportunity in front of Tasmania is enormous.
We have the skills, the experience and the capability to become a global centre for lightweight electric shipbuilding, but to realise that full potential we need support and alignment across all levels of government.
