As the decarbonization challenge intensifies, providing a way to shift commuters and passengers onto vessels with lower or zero emissions is vital. This has resulted in growing interest in innovative technologies in the short sea ferry segment. Electric vessels have been trialled in many countries, demonstrating significant benefits, including reduced emissions to air, quieter operation, and regulatory compliance.
Today, companies are adding an additional element - the use of hydrofoils – which promise even greater levels of efficiency and passenger comfort. Hydrofoils use a foil to lift the vessel up from the water as it gathers speed and in combination with high strength lightweight composite materials and new higher density maritime batteries offer new possibilities for the segment.
To help this segment continue to innovate, DNV and Artemis Technologies Ltd(ATL) have signed a new MOU to work on 100% electric foiling vessels. The MOU builds on their cooperation on the Artemis EF-24 Passenger Ferry of which a number are under construction and rapidly progressing. The EF-24 Passenger is designed and built to meet the requirements of the IMO High Speed Craft Code(HSC) and the DNV High Speed Light Craft(HSLC) Rules.
The cooperation places safety at the heart of the collaboration. DNV and ATL will collaborate to ensure that testing and certification processes ensure that the safety requirements under the relevant international regulations and DNV rules are met or exceeded. The partners hope that this will result in standards that will enable a new generation of vessels, helping to drive the sustainability of the maritime industry even further.
The Artemis EF-24 is a fully electric foiling ferry with a capacity of 150 passengers. Able to cruise at 36 knots with a foiling range of 70 nautical miles, the design could reduce fuel consumption by up to 85% compared to conventional high-speed ferries powered by conventional fuels.