London,UK operator Uber Boat by Thames Clippers has announced that it will launch its first all-electric cross-river passenger ferry, Orbit Clipper, in March 2025. The zero-emissions catamaran will connect Canary Wharf, on the north side of the Thames, with Rotherhithe, on the south, seven days a week, making crossings every 10 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes at weekends.
The aluminium vessel, which has been vaunted as London’s (if not the UK’s) first pure-electric ferry, is currently under construction at Wight Shipyard Co in East Cowes, on the Isle of Wight. This yard has built six vessels for Uber Boat by Thames Clippers to date, including the operator’s three 40m, hybrid-electric passenger ferries Earth Clipper, Celestial Clipper and Mars Clipper, which were delivered between September 2023 and August 2024. The three sisters have since been credited with reducing emissions by 90% apiece.
Designed by Aus Ships Group, Orbit Clipper will measure 25.2m in overall length and 10.1m in beam, and will feature a moulded depth of 2.3m. The newcomer will draw 1.1m, displace 60tonnes in lightship mode and provide space for 150 passengers and 100 bicycles. The ferry will also feature a roll-on/roll-off design to enable automated docking on both sides, which is expected to reduce transit and turnaround times.
A rendering of the forthcoming 150-pax electric ferry
The Orbit Clipper initiative was partly sponsored by Round 3 of the government-funded Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC). The operator and builder are joined by maritime civil engineering consultancy Beckett Rankine and e-boat charging solutions provider Aqua superPower.
While Aqua superPower provides the ferry’s shore power connections, Beckett Rankine will build a new step-free pontoon at the Rotherhithe end of the route, while also modifying the pier at Canary Wharf. Tim Beckett, director, Beckett Rankine, elaborates: “The new pier is designed with a gentle gradient to make the ferries accessible for cyclists and people with restricted mobility. Improved cycle access supports wider plans for e-cargo bike river crossings.” Construction work on the new pier is set to commence in January.
Sean Collins, CEO and co-founder of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, tells The Naval Architect that Orbit Clipper will be powered by an EST-Floattech Octopus battery pack with a total capacity of 960kWh, and that the propulsive set-up will include 150kW electric motors and Hydromaster 360° azimuthing thrusters, helping the passenger ferry to attain a top speed of 10knots. After working an 18-hour day, the vessel will dock at Canary Wharf to recharge overnight, using Aqua superPower’s charger – a process expected to take six hours at 150kW.
Simple and functional in design, reflecting its short crossing times, the ferry will feature a climate-controlled cabin, padded bench seating for foot passengers and standing space and ‘bum rests’ for passengers in the cycle stowage area.
Wight Shipyard Co also built the operator’s hybrid-electric ferries ‘Earth Clipper’, ‘Celestial Clipper’ and ‘Mars Clipper’, delivered between 2023-2024
Orbit Clipper will bring Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ fleet up to 22 vessels, and will effectively replace the 1992-built, 120-pax Twinstar Clipper, which joined the fleet in 2004. That vessel will now be repurposed “for training and development”, Collins says. He describes Orbit Clipper’s imminent launch as a “significant step” towards the company’s goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 50% by 2035 and achieving net-zero by 2050. “The Thames is the lifeblood of our great capital, and it’s our ambition to continue to push for further progression along the river,” Collins comments. “We’re calling upon London’s maritime businesses and government bodies to collaborate and ensure a greener future for all.”
Originally named Thames Clippers, the operator launched its first service in the capital in May 1999. The rebranding came about in 2020 when, at the height of the COVID pandemic, Thames Clippers teamed up with ride-hailing platform Uber to allow passengers to purchase boat tickets via the Uber app, providing a riverine alternative for commuters who wanted to avoid bus and tube journeys.
