An Australian shipbuilder has launched what it describes as the world's largest electric-powered ship—a 130-meter giant capable of carrying 2,100 passengers, AFP reports.

Identified by shipbuilder Incat as Hull 096, the aluminum catamaran is powered by over 250 tons of batteries and was built for South American ferry operator Buquebus.

It is designed to carry passengers and up to 225 vehicles across the La Plata River between Buenos Aires and Uruguay.

"Hull 096 proves that large-scale low-emission transport solutions are not only possible but ready for use," said Stephen Casey, Incat's chief executive, in a statement after the ship was launched in the Dervent River in Hobart, Tasmania.

According to the International Maritime Organization, the UN body responsible for shipping, shipping is responsible for nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which are considered to be the cause of global warming.

Last month, IMO member states voted in favor of a global pricing system to help limit maritime carbon emissions, with all ships required to use lower-carbon fuels by 2028 or face financial penalties.

However, environmental lobby groups fear that the switch to biofuels has its own problems, such as deforestation, and is not enough to solve the problem of maritime emissions.

The Hull 096's batteries and energy storage system (ESS) will provide more than 40 megawatt hours of installed power, Incat said. The ESS is manufactured by Finnish engine manufacturer Wartsila and is connected to eight electrically powered water jets.

"Ferries play a vital role in meeting the growing demand for environmentally sustainable transport solutions, and the electrification of ships is a key solution for the sector's transition to zero emissions," said Roger Holm, president of Wartsila Marine, in the same statement.

The ship was originally named "China Zorilla" and was designed to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) before being reconfigured for battery propulsion. |BGNES