Fully certified e-foiling ferry enters service in Auckland

Enormous potential

Designed and built by venture capital-backed technology group Vessev, New Zealand’s VS-9 “unlocks entirely new opportunities for premium passenger transport on the water,” Fullers360’s chief executive, Mike Horne, tells Marine Propulsion. “The potential of VS-9 is simply enormous.”

Highly energy-economical, the 9-m vessel can transport passengers at a service speed of 25 knots while using approximately 55 kW, the equivalent of just over 70 hp. “This is unheard of for a 9-meter vessel with a full-standing height cabin”, explains Eric Laakmann, the New Zealand-based Canadian-American who leads Vessev. “But this is just the start.”

Propelled by DNV type-approved battery packs, VS-9 has a range of up to 50 nautical miles (92.6 km). Its exact specifications are 8.95-m long, four tonnes fully loaded, battery-electric power, capacity of 10 passengers after a trial period with eight, one skipper/crew, maximum speed of 30 knots and cruising speed of 50 knots with a range of 50 nautical miles, and charging up to 90 kw.

“It’s one thing to build a hydrofoiling vessel, it’s an entirely different challenge to deliver one to commercial standards”

Now that the vessel is fully certified, Vessev is fielding demand from around the world. As Mr Laakmann explains, Vessev projects a production run of 12 VS-9s next year, with more orders due: "Globally, there is a desire for genuine sustainable transport solutions. We have an exciting pipeline in Asia, the USA, Europe, the Middle East and Australia. We are looking forward to exporting this technology from New Zealand in this next phase for Vessev.” The level of interest runs from private buyers to water taxi services and ferry companies.

Looking ahead, Mr Laakmann says: “10 years from now every major body of water will have electric hydrofoiling vessels operating and delivering entirely new services and experiences.” 

Red Sea

And the Red Sea may be the next body of water to see e-foiling ferries. In August 2024, Candela fixed to sell an initial order of eight P-12s to the emerging Saudi Arabian city of NEOM. These will seat between 20-30 people, depending on configuration. The eight vessels will be delivered through 2025 and 2026. Candela has also made inroads into New Zealand, with power provider Meridian Energy replacing from 2025 its diesel-powered ferry with a P-12 for commuting workers on Lake Manapouri in the far south of the country.

Vessev has not revealed the starting price of the VS-9 but the Candela P-12 is stickered at €1.7M ($1.892M) and comes in in three models: the Shuttle, Business, and Voyager.

Mr Laakmann is relaxed about the competition, arguing that there is plenty of room for rivals. He calculates there are less than 200 electric hydrofoiling vessels in the world but most of these are purely recreational craft without full commercial certification. From the very start of the project, Vessev made sure to embed regulatory agencies in the entire process. “The major milestone is the commercialisation of this technology, with the VS-9 being certified by Maritime New Zealand-approved surveyors with many elements designed to international DNV standards,” he explains.

As Vessev’s chief operating officer, Garry Jolliffe, also the lead on certification, explains, it was all about safety: “It’s one thing to build a hydrofoiling vessel, it’s an entirely different challenge to engineer and deliver one to commercial standards.”

Working alongside Maritime New Zealand’s specialists, Vessev started the project in May 2023 and had the prototype operating by mid-2024, pending full certification. The hydrofoiling technology, which is adapted from the latest America’s Cup yachts, was designed from the outset to allow the VS-9 to be berthed and charged in nearly any marina.

The overall project is the work of a New Zealand-based brains trust, specialising in sustainable marine technology. A small 14-strong team at the time of the launch, Vessev is now up to 23 and growing fast, says Mr Laakmann. It combines expertise in racing yachts, including the America’s Cup, vehicle electrification, robotics, space rocketry and engineering, among other sciences.

Scaling up

The next race in commercial e-foiling vessels is for scaled-up 100-passenger or more ferries. Vessev is well down the track and Candela and Belfast-based Artemis Technologies are also working on them. According to Artemis, its E-24 will be able to transport as many as 150 passengers at a cruising speed of 34 knots, with a foiling range of 70 nautical miles.