HOT on the heels of receiving approvals for a fifth construction hall at its Prince of Wales Bay headquarters in Hobart, Incat Tasmania has detailed further plans for expansion at its new upriver site near Boyer, northwest of the city.
The company want to position Tasmania as a global hub for the design and manufacture of electric ferries, creating what would become the largest and most advanced electric shipbuilding operation in the world.
The vision centres on a transformative new industrial precinct at Sorell Creek, where Incat plans a staged expansion capable of delivering up to 12 electric ships per year and creating thousands of jobs across Greater Hobart. The site was acquired from newsprint manufacturer Norske Skog in August 2024.
The announcement comes as Incat welcomed acceptance of its development application for the new 120 x 40 metre production hall at its Prince of Wales Bay shipyard, which the company describes as a key step in the its broader long-term expansion strategy.
Incat Chairman Robert Clifford said the scale of the opportunity ahead for Tasmania was unprecedented.
“We are entering the most exciting period in Incat’s history. The global maritime industry is shifting rapidly toward low–emission vessels, and Tasmania has the opportunity to lead that transformation.
“What we are planning at Sorell Creek is unlike anything that exists in electric shipbuilding anywhere in the world.”
The Sorell Creek development will be delivered in stages, beginning with a 500-metre production hall, followed by two additional halls, creating the capacity for continuous large-scale electric ship production.
The facility will include worker accommodation, parking, supporting infrastructure and renewable energy integration, creating a purpose-built industrial hub designed to operate around the clock.
Hulls and decks built at Sorell Creek will be transferred to Incat’s expanded Prince of Wales Bay facility for superstructure, fit-out and final completion, creating an integrated shipbuilding pipeline across both sites.
Mr Clifford said the Prince of Wales Bay expansion was critical to enabling that future.
“The approval of our fifth production hall at Prince of Wales Bay is important because it strengthens the foundation we need for what comes next.
“It gives us immediate additional capacity, but more importantly it forms part of a much bigger vision, one that will create thousands of jobs and cement Tasmania’s reputation as a world leader in sustainable shipbuilding.”
The new facility is expected to be operational in 2027, expanding the Prince of Wales Bay site to five production halls.
Together, the Prince of Wales Bay and Sorell Creek facilities will form an integrated shipbuilding ecosystem unmatched anywhere in the world, firmly positioning Tasmania at the forefront of the global maritime decarbonisation revolution, Incat Tasmania says.