Agence France-Presse: A Japanese shipmaker said Thursday it planned to launch the world’s first large electric ferry — the latest innovation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A subsidiary of heavy machinery giant IHI Corp. has completed a basic design for a 30-metre (99-foot) long ferry that could carry 800 passengers, powered by rechargeable batteries, a company spokesman said. While smaller battery-powered boats are already in use, IHI’s ferry would be “the world’s first large plug-in …