22-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Electric ferry begins trial runs between Orkney islands
The boat, named Zevi 1, is being deployed to serve a route that connects the Orkney islands of Shapinsay, Egilsay, Wyre and Rousay with Kirkwall on four daily rotations.
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.
Orkney Ferries will begin testing the 12m (39ft) ferry, which can carry a dozen passengers, this week to see how it performs in the sea conditions around the islands.
The Zavi 1 will be based in Kirkwall (Image: Colin Keldie) 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."
Over the coming months, extensive data will be collected to measure the vessel's efficiency and operational performance.
Accompanying the Artemis EF-12 Workboat XL in Orkney is the installation of an ultra-fast charger in Kirkwall, which will provide a full charge to the 12 metre vessel in under 60 minutes.
The trial will last three years (Image: Colin Keldie) Dr Iain Percy, CEO of Artemis Technologies, said: 'Bringing the Artemis EF-12 Workboat XL to the islands supports Electric Orkney's ongoing goal of decarbonising transport whilst improving the quality of service for residents and visitors.'
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Neale Ryan, Head of Land & Maritime Transport at Innovate UK, the main deliver partner of the UK Government's UK SHORE programme, which funds the Electric Orkney project, said: 'We're extremely pleased that another UK SHORE-funded project will now deliver new zero carbon maritime capabilities, this time in Orkney, a community where ferry transport is a key part of daily life.
