Latest news with #DavidTyler
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
As WA ferries falter, a hydrofoil water taxi makes waves in Seattle
The Brief The FF-12 water taxi, developed by Artemis Technologies, is an all-electric, hydrofoiling vessel designed to deliver faster, quieter and more energy-efficient trips across the water. The Belfast-based company recently held a demonstration run between Bremerton and Port Orchard. A route that normally would take around 10 minutes was completed in just two minutes and thirty seconds. With a $2.5 million price tag — about 1.5 times the cost of a traditional diesel boat — it's not cheap. SEATTLE - As Washington's ferry system continues to face a shortage of vessels and resources, and water taxi runs across Puget Sound are increasingly cut back, commuters are left searching for reliable alternatives. Now, a futuristic-looking vessel docked at Seattle's Bell Harbor Marina may signal a breakthrough. Keep reading to learn more about this new kind of vessel and how it could become the future of Seattle's public marine transit. The EF-12 water taxi, developed by Artemis Technologies, is an all-electric, hydrofoiling vessel designed to deliver faster, quieter, and more energy-efficient trips across the water. (FOX 13 Seattle) What is the EF-12 water taxi, and what can it do? Big picture view The EF-12 water taxi, developed by Artemis Technologies, is an all-electric, hydrofoiling vessel designed to deliver faster, quieter and more energy-efficient trips across the water. FOX 13 Seattle got a firsthand look at the high-tech craft on Monday and what could become the future of public marine transit. "Not only can these boats be greener and cleaner than the current ferries here like the high-speed ferries with Kitsap Transit and King County, they can also be cheaper for the taxpayer." David Tyler, co-founder of Artemis Technologies A vessel that uses less energy Local perspective The Belfast-based company recently held a demonstration run between Bremerton and Port Orchard. A route that normally would take around 10 minutes was completed in just two minutes and thirty seconds — all for the cost of a few dollars in electricity. According to Tyler, the EF-12 uses hydrofoiling technology — essentially underwater wings — to lift the boat above the surface, dramatically reducing drag. This e-foiling system allows the vessel to cruise up to one meter above the water. Not only does that make for a smoother ride, but it's also significantly more energy efficient. "We're using anywhere between 70 and 90% less energy," noted Tyler. At full capacity, the EF-12 now on display in Seattle seats 30 people, but Artemis has bigger plans. They've signed a manufacturing partnership with Delta Marine in Seattle to build a larger version that can carry up to 149 passengers, comparable in size to current Kitsap fast ferries and King County water taxis. The EF-12 water taxi, developed by Artemis Technologies, is an all-electric, hydrofoiling vessel designed to deliver faster, quieter, and more energy-efficient trips across the water. (FOX 13 Seattle) A 'game changer for maritime transport' Dig deeper Tyler describes the boat as a "game changer for maritime transport," combining aerospace-style flaps, high-voltage electric batteries from the auto sector and yacht racing hydrofoil technology. The vessel is so fast, it even outpaced FOX 13 Seattle's drone camera during Monday's demo. "It's very quiet … electric motor … so you can have a conversation with the person next to you," said Tyler. "It's a really amazing way to travel on board the water." The sleek, futuristic design may remind some of a sci-fi movie or a James Bond scene. And with a $2.5 million price tag — about 1.5 times the cost of a traditional diesel boat — it's not cheap. But Tyler insists the upfront cost pays off quickly. He argues a busy operator could pay back in three years with what they save on fuel. The EF-12 water taxi, developed by Artemis Technologies, is an all-electric, hydrofoiling vessel designed to deliver faster, quieter, and more energy-efficient trips across the water. (FOX 13 Seattle) Zero operational carbon emissions Big picture view With aging fleets across the state and rising pressure to decarbonize, Tyler says the interest is already strong. "We've been contacted by certain people here," he shared. "They're excited about the opportunity given the funding, and they're really looking for the right solutions." "There's aging fleets everywhere," he added. "A lot of people are looking to decarbonize their operations, but I think sometimes they have trouble to know which direction to go in." Artemis Technologies is hoping to provide that direction, offering what they claim is the world's first commercially viable e-foiling system for marine transport that produces zero operational carbon emissions. "There's definitely less pollution. There's no oil, no diesel going into the water," said Tyler. "That's really why we're here: to support that fleet to transition to a greener future." With Washington often called the ferry capital of the U.S., Tyler sees Seattle as a natural fit. "Seattle has an amazing ferry community because of the natural geography … ferry transport really makes sense." The Source Information in this story came from Artemis Technologies and FOX 13 Seattle's original reporting. MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE Inmate escapes police at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Jamie Tompkins claims Seattle police scandal was a setup. Here's why 3 small WA businesses voted most worth a 1-hour drive 2 new trails connect Redmond transit station to King County park WA joins lawsuit against RFK Jr., Trump administration for dismantling HHS To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
The Independent
11-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
UK companies ‘quieter' about diversity targets amid US pressure
UK companies may be starting to be 'quieter' about their diversity initiatives amid pressure to scale back targets coming from the US, the chair of a Government-backed review has said, despite the number of ethnic minority leaders increasing. The latest report from the Parker Review found that 13 chief executives on the UK's FTSE 100 were of an ethnic minority background at the end of 2024, up from 12 in 2023. Nearly all – 95 out of 100 – companies listed on the FTSE 100 have at least one ethnic minority director on their board. However, this was lower for mid-sized companies listed on the FTSE 250, of which 82% met the target last year. The rest – amounting to 46 businesses – either still had all-white boardrooms, or did not supply data for the survey – therefore missing the voluntary diversity target set by the review. David Tyler, chair of the Parker Review, which is backed by the Government, said he does not see a 'one and done attitude' when it comes to meeting targets – with most companies 'recruiting on merit, and time and time again they're recruiting people from ethnic minorities'. He added that the review had some concerns over a slower rate of progress in the recruitment of black senior managers – who made up about 1.2% of all FTSE 100 positions, lower than their 3.9% share of the wider UK population. Meanwhile, Mr Tyler said there had not been much change among UK firms in response to a cultural shift happening in the US, but that some firms may be 'being a bit quieter' about their initiatives. He told the PA news agency: 'If you are a company that sells in the US, and a lot of FTSE 350 and private companies do… you are naturally thinking about this, and thinking: 'Do I need to change?' 'If you felt that just by having a diversity target you would be barred from bidding for US government contracts, you would be thinking a bit more about what you do. 'The sense I've got so far is that companies don't want to change, because they feel it is a good thing to do to have diversity, equality of opportunity for everybody, to run inclusive companies. 'But what they are perhaps doing is talking a bit less about it, or re-badging some of the names of the departments … or they might simply put it into the HR department.' He added that it is 'still fairly early on and there are some grey clouds on the horizon' when it comes to a potential shift in attitudes to diversity, equality and inclusion.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Many Angelenos skeptical city can complete public transit upgrades before Olympics
A large percentage of Los Angeles residents that took part in a survey say they aren't confident that the city can complete its ambitious infrastructure plans prior to the 2028 Olympics or otherwise ease transportation woes that have plagued the area for decades. The survey was part of a broader effort to understand public transit needs and opinions in major cities, including L.A., New York and Boston. Surveyors found that public transit users in Los Angeles gave the city a 'C grade or lower' on its existing transit system, and riders are skeptical that big projects and major capital investments are going to improve service or be completed on time. Los Angeles is at the center of several major international sporting events taking place in the coming years, including the 2026 NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome, Super Bowl LXI in 2027 at SoFi Stadium and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will utilize several venues around town. But the pièce de résistance is 2028, when the Olympics take center stage and the city welcomes tens of thousands of visitors from around the globe to L.A. City leaders say they want that event to be as 'car-free' as possible, and the region has been awarded more than $900 million to make it happen. But many of those surveyed aren't sure it can be done on time. Of the transit users in L.A. who were surveyed, 27% said they aren't confident the city will meet its deadline to improve public transit infrastructure ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics. More than one-third said they believe those infrastructure improvements could worsen existing transportation issues and even more (37%) said they believed getting around town in the meantime will 'be more difficult before it gets better.' It's important to note that the survey wasn't conducted by a university or transit advocacy group for altruistic reasons. It was was commissioned by Artemis Technologies, a British maritime technology company that develops zero-emission vehicles, which wants to sell the concept of using local waterways — aka ferries—for public transit needs. Artemis conducted the survey to test the waters and gauge the interest that regular transit users have in alternative transit options—like the technology the company has already developed. 'As cities grapple with improving subpar mass transit systems, there's an immense opportunity to rethink the role of maritime transportation in helping people move more efficiently and sustainably,' Artemis co-founder David Tyler said in a statement to KTLA. He said the results of the survey speak for itself, showing that there's an 'appetite for alternative forms of transportation, like ferries, which are widely underutilized by L.A. residents, and are proven to be greener forms of travel.' Respondents said expanded service, increased hours of operation and decreased road congestions are on their public transit wish list, and Tyler said there is an opportunity for riders to utilize existing waterways to help make that a reality. 'Maximizing maritime transportation in cities like L.A. is both a solution to the city's biggest mass transit headaches, and an answer to L.A. residents' call for greener transportation options,' he said. 'Thanks to this data, we know public support is there to back up those investments.' There is some existing ferry service in L.A. that's primarily used for harbor tours or to carry travelers to nearby islands, but nothing to the mass scale Artemis is envisioning. But where ferry service could be deployed is, well, limited to where existing waterways can already be found. So while the premise of more transit options sounds like a no-brainer, unless the company finds a way to send boats up and down the L.A. river, it remains to be seen if boats could actually be a reasonable alternative to L.A.'s existing transit infrastructure. To learn more about Artemis Technologies and see more detailed results of its survey, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
