Vessev unveils hydrofoiling passenger craft
The VS-9 will transport up to ten passengers at a service speed of 25 knots (Source: Vessev)
New Zealand marine engineering firm, Vessev, and the country’s largest ferry operator, Fullers360, have revealed details of a new electric hydrofoil craft that is designed to provide passenger transport in Auckland.
The VS-9 will be certified this year, the companies said, and will start commercial operations with Fullers360 thereafter. The craft will carry up to ten passengers at a service speed of 25 knots. It will have a range of 50 nautical miles.
The Vessev engineers have worked closely with Fullers360’s NetZero Maritime decarbonisation team to ensure that the VS-9 will meet commercial, tourism, and relevant safety standards. It is currently undergoing on-water testing with a petrol-powered chase boat in attendance. The company said that the cost of the boat’s petrol is 25 times more than the electricity used to charge the VS-9.
Vessev CEO, Eric Laakmann, commented: "We are in the earliest stage of a global transition to sustainable energy use. Our partnership with NetZero Maritime is one of the most powerful in the world in accelerating the adoption of new technologies. There are 33 million vessels in the world today, with sustainable vessels representing the smallest fraction. Through significant enhancements in efficiency, hydrofoiling will play a key role in this once-in-a-generation shift."
"The costs of maintaining and fuelling commercial fossil fuel vessels are quite substantial,” he continued. “We expect that in almost any commercial application, the lifetime cost of ownership of these vessels will be substantially less than comparable fossil fuel vessels. That is not including any additional revenue for operators, which may come from operating vessels that deliver the best possible passenger experiences."
The company is also working on the development of a larger unit. The VS-18 will use the same technology but will be capable of carrying 100 passengers.
