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Global News
9 hours ago
- 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
10 hours ago
- 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.
