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 its suitability for commuter operations between Frosta Brygge and Trondheim.
Candela said the P-12 has a cruising speed of 25 knots and a range of around 40 nautical miles.
The vessel uses computer-controlled hydrofoils that lift the hull above the water at speeds above 18 knots, reducing drag and cutting energy consumption by about 80% compared with conventional vessels of similar size, according to the company.
The hydrofoils are managed by a digital flight control system that adjusts in real time to stabilize the vessel.
Charging can be completed in around one hour using standard DC fast chargers, Candela said.
“Candela P-12 is the only electric passenger vessel that combines longer range with high speed without requiring extensive charging infrastructure,” Nikolai Knudsmoen Utheim, chief executive of Boreal, said in a statement.
“Our investment will enable new high-speed routes both in cities and in rural areas,” he added.
Candela said it has an order backlog of more than 65 vessels valued at about 2 billion Swedish crowns ($184 million), according to Swedish media reports.
That includes orders for projects in Mumbai, the Maldives and Thailand.
