Since the 1980'ies,
Buquebus has operated several diesel ferries on its short route between Buenos Aires and Colonia del Sacramento.
Incat's existing relationship with
Buquebus has involved construction and delivery of 8 other ships, amongst them the
LNG-powered
gas turbine catamaran high-speed craft ferry
HSC Francisco to Buquebus in 2013, at the time the fastest turbine ship in the world. In May 2019, Buquebus originally commissioned Incat to deliver a new ship designed to cruise at on the route between Buenos Aires and Colonia del Sacramento. The technology would be
dual-fuel propulsion, capable of operating on
liquefied natural gas and
diesel, with around 400
tonne of
Wärtsilä-31
main engines, 100 tonne gearboxes, 180 tonne
cryogenic fuel tanks and 100 tonne fuel. While the ship structure was being built in January 2023, Buquebus and Incat renegotiated their agreement, and revised the specification to make the ship fully battery-electric (60 km at 24 knots), requiring structural changes in the ship. The $170 million agreement was partly financed with $67 million from
International Finance Corporation and $107 million from
Banco Santander Uruguay. The ferry began charging the battery in October 2025, powered up the battery, motors and waterjets in December 2025, and began
sea trials in the harbour at Incat in January 2026. A speed of 29 knots was reached, with 600 tonnes of cargo onboard. from Tasmania over the
Pacific Ocean to Uruguay in March 2026, ==Design==