‘Flying’ ferry to start zero-emissions Belfast service

Plans have been unveiled for a new “flying” ferry that will begin operating between Belfast and Bangor in 2024. Created by Artemis Technologies, the EF-24 passenger ferry runs entirely on electricity and produces zero emissions.

Unveiling the design of the new ferry on Monday, the firm said it was “the world’s most advanced 100 per cent electric foiling fast ferry” and would “change the way cities around the world utilise and decarbonise their waterways”.

The first ferry, which has been named Zero, will begin operation by Condor Ferries on a pilot scheme from Belfast to Bangor, Co Down, in 2024. This will initially create 125 jobs, which are expected to rise to 1,000 new roles at Artemis in the coming decade, the company said. It said the 150-seat ferry would generate zero emissions in operation, produce minimal wake and deliver up to 85 per cent fuel savings compared to conventional diesel ferries.

With a top speed of 38 knots and powered by a unique electric propulsion system, the 24m vessels will “fly above the water” using hydrofoils that “lift the boats out of the water” and reduce drag. This technology will mitigate the effects of seasickness and produces “minimal wake at high speed, significantly reducing the impact on shorelines,” the firm said.

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The ferry is among several zero-emission vessels being developed by Artemis Technologies in Belfast. The firm is a spin-off from the Artemis Racing team that competed in the America’s Cup, and its founder, Dr Iain Percy, is a four-time veteran of the sailing competition.

“We have combined our experience from the worlds of high-performance sailing, motorsports, aerospace and advanced manufacturing to design and develop an electric propulsion system that is quite simply a game-changer for the maritime industry,” he said. “Our high-speed passenger ferry provides a cost-effective public transport solution that helps address air pollution, congestion and noise” and would encourage other cities around the world “to utilise and benefit from the untapped potential of their waterways”.

Dr Percy said Zero would be the first vessel the company will build at its manufacturing hub in Belfast and this was “only the start” of the company’s ambitions. “Many water-based cities around the world are grappling with the challenge of growing populations, congestion and pollution. The EF-24 Passenger can provide an immediate green transport solution that competes economically with road and rail in places like San Francisco, New York, Venice, Istanbul, Dubai and Singapore — anywhere around the globe that is seeking sustainable transport alternatives that balance the requirement for people to continue to move around with the need to reduce carbon emissions. Especially where new infrastructure is required like a new road or rail line, this ferry will not only be the cheapest, but also the fastest and least disruptive way to decarbonise transport networks in water-based cities.”

The ferry will also feature a “unique” high-speed collision avoidance system developed along with Queen’s University Belfast which will divert the vessel “on an altered path away from sea life, wildlife, debris and other in-water objects that might otherwise be obscured from view.”