World's Biggest Battery-Electric Ferry Enters Commercial Service

The Ecuadorian ferry operator Buquebus has begun commercial operations with the world's largest battery-powered ferry, the China Zorrilla, named after a regionally famous actress.

China Zorrilla is an aluminum fast-ferry constructed at Incat, a pioneer in the aluminum-multihull ferry space. After construction at Incat's yard in Tasmania, the vessel was loaded out on a heavy lift ship and transported to the Rio de la Plata.

Capable of carrying up to 225 vehicles and 2,100 passengers, China Zorrilla is larger and has a bigger battery bank than any other battery-electric vessel. The 130-meter ropax has a deadweight capacity of about 960 tonnes, and has enough spare internal volume to accommodate a massive duty-free retail space.

According to Wärtsilä, the supplier of her power and propulsion systems, the design challenge was to build a zero-emissions ferry that could make 25 knots on a 60-kilometer route, and would be capable of shallow-water operations. The solution included 41 MWh worth of battery capacity, eight electric propulsion motors and eight axial flow waterjets. A pierside DC charging system restores the batteries to readiness with about 40 minutes, and is part of the scheduled operation for each one-way trip.

This story was originally published by The Maritime Executive. Read the full story at The Maritime Executive →