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Hamilton Spectator
24-06-2025
- Business
- 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 . 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Global News
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Global News
‘Flying above the waves': Victoria demo offers glimpse of electric passenger ferry future
They look like something out of a science fiction film. Sleek, white, and appearing to hover above the surface of the water, a Belfast-built hydrofoil put on a show outside of Victoria on Monday. And if things play out the right way, a larger version of the 12-person all-electric water taxi could one day be plying the waters of British Columbia. 'This has the potential to be zero-emission, low wake, ultra quiet and use two-thirds less fuel than any comparable technology, and that means this could be a game changer for the number of routes we provide to British Columbians,' said Mark Collins, CEO of FRS Clipper. 'There's lots of places in B.C. that can be connected by water, much more efficiently than connected by roads — but we've got to have on-water technology that is cost-effective and sustainable to operate and that's what we think this is.' Story continues below advertisement 1:46 Electric passenger ferry plans for Howe Sound Monday's demo was hosted by Collins' company, which operates the Victoria-Seattle Clipper, and Greenline Ferries, which hopes to soon launch an electric ferry service connecting downtown Vancouver with Bowen Island and Gibsons. Both are evaluating the technology for possible use in B.C. waters. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The 12-passenger version of the vessels, which rely on four battery banks, is already in service in the UK, the EU and the Middle East, said David Tyler, co-founder of Artemis Technologies. A larger version capable of carrying up to 150 people, powered by two dozen batteries, is hitting the water soon, with the first three to deploy in Belfast, southern England and Scotland. The company has roots in the racing world, a spinoff from Artemis Racing's America's Cup team, building on the same hydrofoil technology that allows the racing vessels to travel at ultra-high speeds. Story continues below advertisement The vessels are built on a 'wing' beneath the water that allows the hull to pop above the surface. 'We are flying above the waves,' he explained. 'And because we are reducing the drag and we are using anywhere between 70 and 90 per cent less energy, so it s really a game changer in terms of operational costs.' The vessels are also quieter than a traditional vessel and offer a more gentle passenger experience, potentially reducing seasickness. They also produce a much smaller wake, something Tyler said has earned them an exemption to operate at five times Belfast Harbour's five-knot speed limit. Callum Campbell, CEO of Greenline Ferries, said it was important to get a good look at currently existing all-electric technology. 1:13 Next steps for proposed Howe Sound eclectic passenger ferry 'You can use fewer batteries, you can go further, and you can go faster, so this is the kind of technology that is really important to consider,' he said. Story continues below advertisement Collins said the Monday's demo was about assessing whether the technology is sustainable, which would allow the company to build a business case around its use. He said even the larger version of the hydrofoil is likely still too small for its Victoria route, but wouldn't rule out a future where they operated more than one at a time, or explored other routes. Greenline, meanwhile, doesn't have a firm launch date for its operations — though it said in February it was hopeful it could be running within two years. Vancouver City Council and the Vancouver Park Board both recently approved motions aimed at helping the company establish its Vancouver terminal at the Harbour Green dock in Coal Harbour. But he's bullish about the future of passenger ferries on the South Coast, noting the Nanaimo-Vancouver Hullo ferry route is doing well. 'Anywhere where you can connect the heart of one community to the heart of another, that's an opportunity for a passenger-only ferry,' he said. 'It's really time to redraw the map. We've had this map in B.C. where ferry routes go; it was kind of established in the 1960s. It's really time to add new lines to that map that go beyond what people have when they are driving a car.'
CTV News
17-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Hydrofoil passenger ferry could be coming to B.C. in the near future
The Artemis EF-12 Escape, a hydrofoil ferry produced by Artemis Technologies in Belfast, conducts a demo off of Victoria's Inner Harbour. The Artemis EF-12 Escape, a hydrofoil ferry produced by Artemis Technologies in Belfast, conducts a demo off of Victoria's Inner Harbour. The Artemis EF-12 Escape took to the waters off Victoria's Inner Harbour Monday, and could one day be the future of passenger-only ferry service in B.C. It's fully electric and equipped with hydrofoils, or wings, underneath its hull, lifting the vessel out of the water while at cruising speed. The hydrofoils dramatically reduce its drag while travelling through the water, allowing it to reach speeds of up to 30 knots. That's double the pace of a conventional ferry, all while using half the energy. FRS Clipper has partnered with Victoria-based consulting group Greenline Ferries in bringing Artemis Technologies and the Escape to B.C. The group is looking at the feasibility of using this technology in the Pacific Northwest. 'This could be a game changer for the number of routes that we can supply to British Columbians,' said Mark Collins, CEO of FRS Clipper. Collins said the technology is sustainable and cost-effective, with the price of a vessel being comparable to the cost of a conventional ferry, although it's operating costs are much less. FRS Clipper is considering an expansion between Bowen Island, Gibsons and downtown Vancouver. If that were to prove successful, the company said a route between Colwood's Beachlands development and Victoria's Inner Harbour would not be out of the question. 'We call them shortcuts, anywhere where you can connect the heart of one community to the heart of another community, that's the opportunity for a passenger-only ferry,' said Callum Campbell, CEO of Greenline Ferries. The Artemis EF-12 Escape is a water taxi version that could be configured to carry up to 30 passengers. FRS Clipper is exploring purchasing the EF-24 Passenger version that is capable of carrying up to 150 passengers, which Artemis will be rolling out later this year. 'It is a little small for our projections on the Victoria to Seattle route, however that doesn't say that one day there could be two or even three operating alongside each other providing more frequency and more choices,' said Collins. The seemingly floating vessel's technology could offer a smoother ride in rough waters with a lighter environmental footprint.
