The Orbit Clipper, described by its operator as Great Britain’s first fully electric ferry, has completed its maiden voyage on the River Thames and is scheduled to begin regular passenger service in London in February 2026.
Operated by Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, the battery-electric vessel was built at Wight Shipyard in East Cowes with partial funding from government grants and designed by Aus Ships Group. The company said the ferry will operate between Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf, offering frequent crossings as part of London’s river transport network.
Once in full service, the Orbit Clipper will carry up to 150 passengers and 100 bicycles, operating every 10 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes at weekends. The ferry will initially run alongside the existing Twinstar vessel before becoming the sole operator on the route by spring 2026, the company said.
The 25.2-metre-long ferry is powered by twin 150-kilowatt electric motors with Hydromaster 360-degree azimuth thrusters and is equipped with a 960 kWh battery system supplied by EST Floattech. It has a top speed of 10 knots and will be charged overnight at Canary Wharf using a 150-kilowatt charger from Aqua Superpower, with a full charge expected to take about six hours.
“The launch of Orbit Clipper is a significant milestone for sustainable transport in London,” said Sean Collins, chief executive of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. “As the UK’s first all-electric, zero-emissions vessel, it represents our commitment to reducing the city’s carbon footprint while continuing to provide reliable and efficient river transport.”
The Orbit Clipper forms part of the operator’s broader sustainability programme. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers already runs three hybrid ferries that operate on battery power in central London and switch to combustion engines outside the city centre, as it works toward lower-emission operations on the Thames.