UK port invests in electric pilot vessel

The Port of Tyne on the UK’s north-east coast has announced the purchase of the UK’s first fully-electric foiling pilot vessel designed and built by Artemis Technologies of Belfast. The Artemis EF-12 Pilot is designed with new e-Foiler® technology that uses a combination of electricity and hydrofoils to provide fast, smooth, zero-emission transport.

The port’s Matt Beeton, CEO, commented: “Adding the EF-12 Pilot to the port’s fleet is a significant milestone not just for the Port of Tyne, but for the maritime sector as a whole. As the first UK port to adopt this groundbreaking technology, we’re not only improving standards of safety and efficiency, but also delivering a more sustainable operation in support of the Government’s Maritime 2050 strategy. Together, we’re shaping a cleaner, smarter future for ports across the UK.”

Iain Percy, Artemis Technologies founder and CEO, was helmsman for the +39 Challenge in the 2005 Americas Cup and subsequently a double Olympic sailing champion for Great Britain. Commenting on the Port of Tyne deal, he said: “We are delighted to partner with the Port of Tyne, which will see the UK’s first deployment of a fully electric foiling pilot boat ...  At Artemis Technologies, we are committed to developing high-performance, zero-emission solutions, and this partnership is a testament to what’s possible when industry leaders share a vision for transformation.”

The new propulsion technology has already caught the attention of a wide range of potential customers from sectors including offshore wind, maritime security, pilot craft, survey vessels, and inter-island and island-mainland ferry service providers. Earlier this month, the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Seattle-based Delta Marine to design and build eFoiler® vessels for deployment on Washington’s Puget Sound.

Artemis vessels have speeds of up to 35 knots in sea conditions extending to Beaufort Force 5, with waves of  1.5  - 2m.