The China Zorrilla, the world’s largest 100% electric ferry, was launched on May 2, 2025, at Incat’s shipyard in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Commissioned by Buquebus, the 130-meter vessel will connect Argentina and Uruguay across the River Plate, carrying up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles. The vessel is due in Uruguay in the last quarter of 2025. It was the ninth unit Incat has built for Buquebus.
Add your comment!Buquebús and Colonia Express, the two shipping companies providing regular passenger services between Argentina and Uruguay, announced this week that they planned to challenge President Luis Lacalle Pou's decree creating a US$ 2.56 surcharge for passengers arriving or leaving at the ports of Colonia and Montevideo.
Buquebús, the only company offering passenger services linking Montevideo and Buenos Aires daily across the River Plate in addition to the route between Colonia and the Argentine capital, announced Friday that its newest unit already under construction and slated to be delivered in 2025 would be named after Uruguayan actress China Zorrilla.
Argentine customs authorities Thursday extended the deadline for the return to Uruguay of Buquebus' Eladia Isabel to prevent her from sinking, it was reported in Buenos Aires. Following an inspection in June last, the vessel was found to be in a distressing condition and was to be re-exported before July 9. Now it has time so until Oct. 10.
Argentina's Customs General Directorate Tuesday banned Buquebús' Eladia Isabel from River Plate shuttle services to Uruguay due to its poor condition, it was reported in Buenos Aires. The vessel's sailing certifications were also found to have expired.
Travelers interested in crossing rivers separating Argentina from Uruguay will have a new choice as of Friday when the Tigre (Argentina)-Carmelo (Uruguay) route is to be resumed, this time around by Buquebús, which has taken over the service previously offered by Cacciola until 2019.
The Argentine union of maritime workers SOMU Friday staged a protest at the Buquebús terminal in the port of Buenos Aires to keep ships from sailing off to Uruguay in demand of a due wage increase of 23% agreed upon last year.
Argentine President Cristina Fernández met on Monday with her Uruguayan counterpart José Mujica after the pair inaugurated a new vessel belonging to the ferry company Buquebús, (which joins Montevideo with Buenos Aires), in order to discuss matters related to the controversial UPM pulp plant formerly known as Botnia.
The country “needs leaders in government, not demagogues” said Juan Carlos López Mena a leading businessman of Uruguay’s tourism and transport industry who is also investing heavily in agriculture and an incipient regional airline.
China’ BYD has inked another strategic deal for its electric bus products, this time in Uruguay with one of the country’s leading tourism companies. The agreement was witnessed by Uruguay’s president Jose Mujica.