Is it a bird? Is it a boat? This vessel ‘flies' above the water
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
24-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
B.C.'s first ‘flying ferry' makes waves at the Squamish oceanfront
For video- In a demonstration that felt more like science fiction than public transit, an all-electric 'flying' ferry took to the waters of Howe Sound on June 23, showcasing its green technology. A flying ferry? Yes, you read that right. It uses hydro-foiling technology—'wings' that lift the vessel out of the water—only this one is fully electric. The Artemis EF-12 Escape, a zero-emission passenger vessel built by Belfast's Artemis Technologies, has arrived in B.C. in its latest run of demonstration voyages across North America. Leaving the Matthews West Harbour Air dock on Monday, June 23, hosts FRS Clipper and Greenline Ferries took The Squamish Chief, as well as representatives from the District of Squamish—including council members and Mayor Armand Hurford—representatives from the Squamish Chamber of Commerce, the downtown Squamish BIA, Tourism Squamish, Vancouver City council member Rebecca Bligh, and Sea to Sky MLA Jeremy Valeriote, in the Artemis EF-12 Escape for a literal spin around the harbour at 25 knots. The vessel's interior is comfortable and spacious, making up the 'premium' experience promised by Artemis Technologies, all with very little noise, which some may expect to be very much otherwise. Artemis Technologies states on its website that they aim to create 'a more sustainable maritime future… committed to pioneering sustainable solutions that tackle the global climate challenge.' 'We want to create a sustainable business to serve the people of Squamish, and we have to test certain things like speed, durability, and energy consumption,' said chief executive officer (CEO) of FRS Clipper, Mark Collins. 'This technology represents a fundamental change in operating costs; that's a game changer for the economics.' Other FRS Clipper and Greenline staff aboard explained how the vessel's technology works using hydro-foils, so as it accelerates and comes out of the water, 70 to 90% less energy is used for the engine. The foils or 'wings' can also be used to sail the boat, enabling it to turn at high speeds. With hydro foiling, in addition to the Artemis EF-12 Escape being made of lightweight carbon fibre, the vessel's weight is very limited; staff explained that the vessel's minimal weight also significantly reduces its wake. A boat's wake can disturb local life in waterways and the surrounding environment. 'The wake can damage the shoreline, and there are both cultural and economic problems with that,' said Collins, 'So, if you take out the wake, you reduce the chances of damage to people's private property, to cultural sites, archaeology, and history.' The electric vessel will have 'charge barges' (like EV stations); the founder and CEO of Greenline Ferries Callum Campbell, said that a trip to Bowen Island from downtown Vancouver, for example, could be done with charge only from Vancouver. However, if the vessel were to travel to downtown Vancouver from Squamish, which staff estimate would take just under an hour, it would need a charge at both docks. 'The ideal scenario [is] having charging everywhere so the [vessel] can always have an available fuel source, but you don't have to build up the system to the ideal right away; you do the operational plan with the infrastructure that you have for minimum viable service, and build up from there over time,' said Collins. The Artemis EF-12 Escape is the demonstrative vessel that is part of a wider sustainable transport project to be completed by 2027, which will feature larger passenger vessels, such as the Artemis EF-24 Passenger. The project will consist of an express ferry service between Gibsons, Bowen Island, and downtown Vancouver, taking approximately 56 minutes dock to dock at a maximum speed of 30 knots. FRS Clipper and Greenline Ferries staff said they plan to expand the express service to Victoria. Regarding Artemis Technologies' demonstrations taking place in B.C., Campbell explained Greenlines' affiliation and like-mindedness with the manufacturer. 'One thing we really want to showcase is that the technology is here, right? The engineers have done their work; the shipbuilders have done their work. 'This technology exists [in B.C.], so it's important for us to show that this is not one of our challenges in deployment and services; it is a big, ambitious project to bring in a new, all-electric ferry service into B.C.' Artemis Technologies is currently providing voyage demonstrations across North America; you can find more details about their technology and range of vessels to be launched on their website. Ina Pace is The Squamish Chief's Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) Reporter. This reporting was produced through the LJI, which supports original civic journalism across Canada. •Please note that The Squamish Chief updated this story after it was first published to include all the parties with representatives on the tour. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Electric hydrofoil ferry begins trials in Orkney
A small, electric passenger ferry is beginning a three-year trial in Orkney. The vessel uses new hydrofoil technology and could cut travel times between islands significantly. The ferry has been built by Artemis Technologies in Belfast and the £15m trial is part of the Electric Orkney project - funded by the UK government's Zero Emission Vessel and Infrastructure (Zevi) fund. If it is approved to carry passengers, the ferry will operate from Kirkwall to the islands of Shapinsay, Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre. Orkney Ferries will begin testing the 12m (39ft) ferry this week to see how it performs in the sea conditions around the islands. The hydrofoil technology lifts the hull of the vessel above the water, enabling it to travel at high speed. If the Zevi boat performs well it is expected to begin carrying passengers later this summer. "This is a trial and we need to find out how well this new technology will work here," said Orkney Islands councillor Melissa Thomson, who chairs Orkney Ferries. "We are very hopeful this could be a game-changer for faster travel between the islands if things go well." Service manager for Orkney Ferries, Eddie Barclay, said the Zevi boat would be put through its paces by experienced local mariners for the next two months. "We need to see how it performs in different sea states and conditions," he said. "The waters around Orkney can be challenging so it will certainly test her handling capabilities." A second larger hydrofoil vessel is due to arrive in the islands at the end of this year. A new fast electric charger is being installed at Kirkwall's harbour which will charge the Zevi's batteries in about one hour. More stories from North East Scotland, Orkney and Shetland Listen to news from Orkney on BBC Sounds The electric hydrofoil is a high-tech addition to Orkney's ferry fleet, but it does not remove the urgent need to replace the islands' ageing internal ferries. Its arrival coincided with the latest meeting of the Scottish government's internal ferry replacement taskforce for the area. It is currently chaired by Finance Secretary Shona Robison who welcomed the arrival the electric ferry. The Scottish government has contributed £3m towards supporting the Zevi trial and also the council's business case for new ferries. Ms Robison said the local authority had plans to introduce eight new vessels in total which would help both tourism and the local community. Orkney to get two electric ferries for trial
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Port hosts electric ferry demonstration. Can we expect to see that service in Olympia?
About 50 people, including Port of Olympia commissioners and other area elected officials, were on hand Thursday afternoon to see and ride on an electric passenger ferry at the Port Plaza dock on Budd Inlet's West Bay. The port hosted the event and now the questions begin, including: What would it take to introduce the service here and provide it for destinations north of Olympia? That work will begin with a market study to determine the demand for such a service, said Mike Reid, the port's community and economic development director. He's not certain the ultimate destination would be Seattle, but it might be Des Moines, connecting travelers to shuttles or light rail as they make their way to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. By traveling by ferry, travelers could avoid the unpredictability of Interstate 5 traffic and the cost of parking for an extended stay, Reid said. 'I actually think we could be competitive in that market,' he said. The port's event began at 3 p.m. Meanwhile, the Artemis EF-12 Escape Water Taxi was busy getting its batteries charged at Swantown Marina on East Bay. It then headed north, turned left and came south on West Bay quickly and quietly before it banked hard and pulled up to the Port Plaza dock. 'The vessel combines a number of different technologies,' said David Tyler, co-founder of Artemis Technologies. 'It has electric propulsion units, high-voltage batteries that have been developed from the automotive sector, and hydrofoils, which are basically a wing under the water. As the boat accelerates, it creates lift, pops a boat up out of the water, reducing the drag and providing a huge efficiency saving.' The vessel on hand was specified for 12 passengers, but can accommodate up to 30, Tyler said. The Belfast-based company is also working on a 150-passenger boat that is expected to be launched later this year. Although the company is based in Europe, its North American division is in Brooklyn, New York, and the business recently entered into a memorandum of understanding for manufacturing services with Delta Marine, a luxury boat builder in Tukwila. Here's the important part: The water taxi can travel about 50 nautical miles on a one-hour charge at a speed around 25 knots, he said. At slower speeds, it can cover about 100 miles on the same charge, Tyler said. Artemis undertook a similar demonstration between Bremerton and Port Orchard, Tyler said. That trip normally takes about 10 minutes, but they completed it in two-and-a-half minutes, spending a couple of dollars in electricity in the process, he said. 'I think once you start to provide a better service to people on the water, both in terms of ride comfort and speed, then you can really start to grow demand for ferry services and build the market,' Tyler said. For any of this to happen, Port Commissioner Jasmine Vasavada envisions that the port would need help from the state or elsewhere to pay for the upfront costs of the vessel, but would benefit from the lower operating costs of an electric ferry. Her understanding is that the water taxi on display represents $250,000 in savings to operate here versus a traditional fuel-powered vessel, she said. The state took steps to help ferry services this past legislative session, said state Rep. Lisa Parshley of Olympia, who was at Thursday's demonstration. House Bill 1923 sought to increase the availability of passenger-only ferries by establishing the Mosquito Fleet Act, so named for a boat-based transportation service that used to exist in Puget Sound. 'Expand the types of entities that can form a passenger-only ferry service district, as well as the locations where they can be formed,' the proposed legislation reads. Although that bill died in the Senate Transportation Committee, it has not gone away, and lawmakers are expected to revisit it during the next legislative session, Parshley said. Parshley seemed more than ready to embrace a local ferry service after a recent drive north to the University of Washington in Seattle took four hours. 'It took me two and a half hours to get to the Sea-Tac exit — two and a half freaking hours — and then another hour and a half to get to where I needed to go,' she said.
