Author: Ethan Ward

Vision Marine Technologies has filed a U.S. patent application for a dual-mode trim-control system designed to allow electric outboard motors to be repositioned without powering up the entire propulsion system. The proposed technology aims to simplify routine operations such as maintenance, transport and launching by enabling trim adjustments directly from the motor or through compatible helm controls while keeping the high-voltage propulsion system inactive. The patent application is currently under review by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Designed for Everyday Boat Operations Unlike conventional gasoline outboards, electric propulsion systems operate using high-voltage electrical architectures that introduce different operational and…

Artemis Technologies has unveiled the EF-12 Pilot, which it describes as the world’s first fully electric hydrofoil pilot boat, with the vessel now undergoing sea trials ahead of its planned entry into commercial service. The EF-12 Pilot has been developed specifically for pilot transfer operations and combines a battery-electric propulsion system with hydrofoil technology that lifts the hull above the water during transit. According to Artemis Technologies, the design reduces hydrodynamic drag, lowering energy consumption while improving vessel stability, manoeuvrability and wake performance. Electric Hydrofoil Designed for Pilot Transfers The vessel is based on the company’s proprietary eFoiler platform, which…

Construction has officially begun on the first of five battery-electric ferries for Perth’s Swan River, marking a milestone in Western Australia’s A$107 million METRONET on Swan Ferry Service Expansion project. A keel laying ceremony marked the start of vessel construction for the jointly funded initiative, which combines a new electric ferry fleet with expanded passenger infrastructure. Fleet and Network Expansion The project will introduce five battery-electric ferries alongside a new ferry route connecting the existing Elizabeth Quay terminal with new terminals at Matilda Bay and Applecross. The expanded ferry services are scheduled to enter operation from late 2027. Echo Marine…

Norwegian maritime developer LH2 Shipping has secured fresh funding from Enova to support the construction of two additional liquid hydrogen-powered bulk carriers, expanding its project pipeline to six vessels and strengthening efforts to commercialise zero-emission shipping. The Bergen-based company has been awarded NOK 344.3 million ($36 million) to develop and build two 7,700 dwt shortsea bulk carriers designed to operate primarily on liquid hydrogen. The latest funding brings total public support for LH2 Shipping’s hydrogen shipping programme to more than NOK 800 million. The vessels are intended for shortsea routes linking Norway with continental Europe and the Baltic region. According…

Norwegian shipping company Eitzen Group has ordered two fully electric container vessels and secured financing support for two additional ships as part of its strategy to develop one of Europe’s first large-scale electric container shipping networks. The project is backed by the Norwegian government enterprise Enova, which has awarded NOK 200 million (€18.2 million) to Eitzen Avanti, a subsidiary of Eitzen Group, to support the construction of the latest vessels. Large Battery-Electric Container Ships Each vessel will be equipped with a battery system exceeding 100 MWh, making them among the largest battery-powered container ships currently planned for commercial service. The…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng is reportedly entering the yacht industry, broadening its ambitions beyond smart vehicles and flying cars as it pursues a wider mobility ecosystem strategy. According to a report by Chinese technology publication Leiphone, the Guangzhou-based company has established a yacht research and development team of nearly 100 employees and is developing its first marine product under the internal codename “Flying Fish.” The project is reportedly led by Qian Zhanwei, Xpeng’s head of vehicle architecture, although the company has not publicly commented on the report. Yacht Project Said to Focus on Smart Technology The yacht remains in…

Dutch maritime technology company Wattlab has introduced WEstack, a standardized battery system designed for inland shipping vessels, as the company seeks to simplify the adoption of battery technology and support emissions reduction efforts in the sector. The Rotterdam-based company said the system can be installed onboard within a single working day, significantly reducing the installation time typically associated with marine battery projects. Wattlab said WEstack is intended to address two of the main barriers to battery adoption in inland shipping: high installation costs and lengthy integration processes. Designed for Faster Installation Unlike many marine battery systems that are custom-built and…

Australian shipbuilders are moving forward with new battery-electric ferry projects in Brisbane and Sydney as governments and industry partners increase efforts to reduce emissions in maritime transport. Aus Ships Group, based in Brisbane, is developing an 18-metre electric ferry in partnership with Volvo Penta. The vessel is expected to enter service by the end of the year and will be capable of carrying up to 80 passengers. The ferry will use a twin installation of Volvo Penta’s IPS450E electric propulsion system, with each driveline delivering 250 kilowatts of power. The propulsion setup will be paired with a 460-kWh onboard battery…

A Norwegian consortium led by SINTEF and shipbuilding company Vard is developing an inductive charging system designed to recharge battery-electric vessels at sea without using conventional charging cables. The initiative, known as the Ocean Charger project, is focused on enabling electric service vessels operating at offshore wind farms to charge under harsh maritime conditions where cable-based systems can be difficult to use reliably. Battery-electric service operation vessels, or SOVs, are increasingly being deployed in Europe to transport maintenance crews and equipment to offshore wind farms. See also: Tharsis Secures EU Funding for Zero-Emission Container Ship Project However, charging vessels offshore…

Tharsis Ship Management has received financial backing from the EU Innovation Fund to develop its eSeaRiverBarge project, which aims to deploy two zero-emission container vessels operating between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The project centres on purpose-built ships equipped with swappable battery containers supplied by Zero Emission Services. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2027, with both vessels expected to enter service by 2029. Project leaders described the ships as “two first-of-a-kind zero-emission sea-river container vessels,” designed with dedicated storage areas in the bow and stern for up to 16 interchangeable ISO “energy containers.” See also: Vessev to…

DHL has expanded its solar-powered parcel delivery operations in Berlin by introducing a second, larger electric vessel on the Spree River, the company said, as it scales efforts to shift urban logistics onto waterways. The new vessel will operate on a route linking Köpenick with the Osthafen near the Oberbaum Bridge, connecting multiple stops equipped with solar-powered parcel lockers. The expansion follows a pilot launched in 2022 in partnership with BEHALA and shipping company Solarwaterworld, which tested battery-electric vessels transporting parcels between Spandau and Westhafen. After extending the pilot in 2023, DHL said it is now scaling the concept following…

Norwegian transport operator Boreal has ordered 20 electric hydrofoil ferries from Swedish manufacturer Candela for deployment on passenger routes in Norway, in what the companies said is the largest electric ferry fleet order to date. The vessels, based on Candela’s P-12 electric hydrofoil platform, are intended for high-speed passenger transport along Norway’s fjords and coastal routes where conventional electric ferries have faced limitations in speed and range. The first two vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2027, with the remaining units to be delivered between 2028 and 2030. The P-12 had previously undergone a six-week trial in Norway to assess…

Candela has introduced the P-12 Business, an electric hydrofoil vessel designed for premium passenger transport and last-mile maritime mobility, as the company expands into commercial waterborne transit. The first unit has been commissioned in Stockholm and is scheduled to enter service in Mumbai, with additional deployments planned in markets including the Maldives and Saudi Arabia, targeting coastal and urban transport routes. The P-12 Business is based on Candela’s hydrofoil platform, which uses a computer-controlled system to lift the hull above the water’s surface. The design reduces drag and wave impact, resulting in lower energy consumption, reduced noise, and smoother operation…

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has secured a contract with Echo Marine Group to support the delivery of Western Australia’s first fully electric passenger ferries, as part of the METRONET Swan River Ferry Service Expansion in Perth. The project, led by the Perth Transport Authority, will introduce five battery-electric vessels into operation, with the first ferry expected to enter service in 2027. LR said the transition to battery-electric propulsion introduces new technical requirements, particularly around high-voltage systems, battery integration and compliance with evolving regulatory standards. The company has been involved from the early stages of the project to help define approval pathways…

CATL has signed a cooperation framework agreement with the vessel division of China Oilfield Services Limited (COSL) to jointly develop electrified offshore support vessels, the company said in a March 28 statement. The partnership will focus on battery-electric and hybrid propulsion systems tailored for offshore engineering and transport operations, with the aim of improving safety and reducing emissions in maritime oilfield logistics. See also: CATL Debuts Sodium-Ion Batteries in Mass-Produced Passenger Vehicles The agreement builds on earlier retrofit projects involving the vessels Haiyang Shiyou 545 and Haiyang Shiyou 55, which were upgraded with LNG-battery hybrid systems. These vessels use load-shifting…

Damen Shipyards has completed the first fully electric unit of its Waterbus 2907 Electric ferry, marking a step forward in the electrification of urban waterborne public transport. The Waterbus 2907 Electric is designed to carry up to 130 passengers while delivering zero emissions and minimal wake, making it suitable for operation in densely populated waterways. The new model builds on the earlier hybrid version of the Waterbus 2907, which had been designed with future conversion to full battery-electric propulsion in mind. Damen said the latest iteration incorporates improvements based on operational experience, including enhanced wheelhouse ergonomics and a 1,000-volt DC…

Swedish electric boat manufacturer Candela has raised €30 million from existing investors and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to scale up production of its hydrofoil vessels, the company said. The funding will support the construction of a second manufacturing facility in Gdańsk, Poland, aimed at increasing output of the battery-electric Candela P-12 ferry. The model is already operating in Stockholm’s public transport network and is being introduced in additional Nordic cities, including Gothenburg, Oslo and Trondheim. Candela said the P-12 uses hydrofoil technology, allowing the vessel to rise approximately one metre above the water during operation, reducing drag and improving…

Ferry operator Scandlines has put what it describes as the world’s largest electric freight ferry into service, deploying the vessel Baltic Whale on the Fehmarn Belt route between Rødby and Puttgarden. The ferry, measuring 147.4 meters in length, is equipped with a 10 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery system, allowing it to operate fully electrically or in hybrid mode using diesel generators. The vessel completed its maiden voyage on March 10, 2026, marking the culmination of a project first announced in 2022 when the ship was known as PR24. According to Scandlines, the ferry can complete the 18.5-kilometre crossing between Rødby and…

A European research consortium has launched a new initiative aimed at advancing hydrogen propulsion for ships by developing megawatt-scale fuel cell systems capable of operating for extended periods in demanding maritime environments. The project, known as MiNaMi—short for Million Nautical Mile Fuel Cell System—is supported by approximately €7 million in European funding and involves nine industry and research partners working across the hydrogen technology value chain. The programme aims to develop Europe’s first proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system in the megawatt power range designed to operate for at least 80,000 hours, equivalent to more than one million nautical…

China has started sea trials of what is described as the world’s largest all-electric container ship, marking a new step in the electrification of maritime transport as the vessel prepares for commercial operations along coastal feeder routes. The ship, named Ning Yuan Dian Kun and built by Jiangxi Jiangxin Shipbuilding, measures 127.80 metres in length and 21.60 metres in width. Designed as a 10,000-tonne class container vessel, it is currently undergoing testing in waters off Shanghai after completing earlier mooring trials. The vessel is expected to be operated by Ningbo Ocean Shipping Co., Ltd. on routes connected to the busy…