Author: Ethan Ward

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…

Blue Water Autonomy has introduced the Liberty Class, a 190-foot autonomous surface vessel designed for U.S. Navy deployment, as the Pentagon accelerates efforts to expand unmanned maritime capabilities. The Boston-based technology and shipbuilding company said the steel vessel will have a range exceeding 10,000 nautical miles and payload capacity of more than 150 metric tons, enabling missions including missile launch, sensor deployment and logistics support. Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2026 at Conrad Shipyard in Louisiana, with the first ship expected to be completed later in the year under a formal acquisition program. The Liberty Class is built…

Vessev will trial its VS–9 electric hydrofoiling passenger vessel on Lake Wakatipu this month, as part of a study examining whether battery-electric water transport could help ease congestion in one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing cities. The demonstration, scheduled for Feb. 10, will evaluate the performance of the VS–9 on the lake between Queenstown and Kingston, including travel times, passenger experience and operational requirements. The trial is being conducted in partnership with residential developer Kingston Village and regional stakeholders, with findings expected to inform a broader feasibility study later this year. See also: New Zealand’s Vessev Secures First European Customer for…

ABB has secured an order to provide energy, propulsion and control systems for four new hybrid ferries commissioned by BC Ferries, the companies said. The vessels will be built by CMI Weihai and are scheduled for delivery starting in 2029. BC Ferries, one of the world’s largest ferry operators, runs 47 terminals across 25 routes in Canada’s British Columbia, carrying about 9.7 million vehicles and 22.7 million passengers annually. The four vessels form part of the operator’s New Major Vessels programme and will be double-ended ferries, allowing vehicles to load and unload from both ends. See also: Incat Trials World’s…

U.S. marine electrification company Fleetzero has raised $43 million in Series A funding to expand manufacturing of its hybrid and electric propulsion systems, as it seeks to scale production capacity and support the maritime sector’s shift toward lower-emission vessels. The funding round was led by Obvious Ventures, with participation from Maersk Growth, 8090 Industries and Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Fleetzero said. The company also announced the opening of a new manufacturing and research facility in Houston, Texas. See also: Motive Energy to Supply Megawatt-Scale Charging System for Electric Tugboats at Port of Los Angeles The new site will initially support production…