Electric propulsion

Ferry electrification gains pace globally

Ferry electrification gains pace globally

The waters in northern Norway’s Lofoten archipelago are about to get greener, with local ferry operator Moskenes Shipping having taken delivery of an all-electric passenger catamaran. The newbuild was ordered to support Lofoten’s ‘Green Islands’ programme, a joint private-/public-sector initiative promoting the rollout of zero- and low-emission solutions across the islands, both at sea and […]

VS-9 foiling ferry set to shake up Auckland passenger transits

VS-9 foiling ferry set to shake up Auckland passenger transits

Auckland, New Zealand is about to welcome its first all-electric passenger ferry, which will combine batteries and hydrofoils to ‘fly’ above the waves, reducing impact and drag, without emissions. The VS-9 has been produced by Vessev, a company aiming to roll out electric vessels incorporating sport sailing performance-level foiling tech for “premium tourism services”. The […]

Watts in store for Argentina: a green ferry overhaul

Watts in store for Argentina: a green ferry overhaul

The Paraná Delta is a fascinating ecological zone, located where the Paraná River meets the River Plate in Argentina. While most deltas empty into oceans, the Paraná Delta flows directly into the River Plate, a freshwater estuary, creating a unique ecosystem with a mix of freshwater and wetland habitats. As such, the Delta is a […]

Turning “trash into treasure” with recycled plastic

Turning “trash into treasure” with recycled plastic

Electric and hybrid marine drive manufacturer Torqeedo has announced that it will build its future propellers from “100% recycled ocean plastics”, as a small but firm step towards addressing the plastic pollution crisis. Torqeedo’s Advanced Engineering Team is currently testing recycled ocean-bound polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP) plastic pellets, which, the team claims, could […]

IEMA launches electric vessel manifesto

IEMA launches electric vessel manifesto

New boat sector non-profit the International Electric Marine Association (IEMA) has launched a manifesto pledging its commitment to the adoption of electric vessel propulsion, emphasising “knowledge exchange, educational outreach, research and development, industry representation and cultural/environmental considerations” among its key objectives. The manifesto has been endorsed by nine national association signatories, including: the Electric Boat […]

Optima water taxi goes to town on green power

Optima water taxi goes to town on green power

A collaborative project spearheaded by Optima Electric Yachts – a company dedicated to producing 100% electric boats with energy-saving hullforms – and funded by the fourth round of the UK government’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC4), aims to develop an electric vessel for urban riverine transport, as well as potential leisure and commercial marine applications. […]

First trip for the Phantom

First trip for the Phantom

Vision Electric Boats, the boatbuilding division set up by Canadian electric outboard manufacturer Vision Marine Technologies, unveiled its new “unsinkable” polyethylene boat, the Phantom, at the 2024 Miami International Boat Show. The bright blue boat was produced using rotational moulding (aka rotomoulding): a technique used to create large, one-piece, complex shapes, typically with uniform wall […]