Belfast marine manufacturer Artemis Technologies has revealed details of “the world’s most advanced” fully electric fast ferry which will be put through its paces on a 25-minute pilot scheme between Bangor, County Down, and Belfast.
The company, which was borne out of the Artemis Racing Team and is run by double Olympic gold medallist Ian Percy, said the 24-metre vessel will be capable of carrying 150 passengers and will ride above the waves on foils which, by reducing drag, will make the electric powered vessel extremely efficient and stable. The ferry was developed by Artemis and members of the Belfast Maritime Consortium.
With a top speed of 38 knots and a range of 115 nautical miles, the ferry is expected to transform the global passenger ferry market as it strives to decarbonise and reduce its reliance on traditional fossil fuel-powered vessels.
The company restated its projection that the production of the ferry will create 125 jobs in Northern Ireland contribute to a total of 1,000 new roles at Artemis in the coming decade.
Dr Iain Percy OBE, said the potential for the zero emission ferries are significant.
“The zero-emission ferry that will be seen departing Belfast in 2024, aptly named ‘Zero’, will be the first we build at our manufacturing hub in the city, but it is only the start,” he said. "Many water-based cities around the world are grappling with the challenge of growing populations, congestion, and pollution.
He said the company is targeted major cities around the world.
“The EF-24 Passenger can provide an immediate green transport solution that competes economically with road and rail in places like San Francisco, New York, Venice, Istanbul, Dubai and Singapore – anywhere around the globe that is seeking sustainable transport alternatives that balance the requirement for people to continue to move around with the need to reduce carbon emissions.”
“Especially where new infrastructure is required like a new road or rail line, this ferry will not only be the cheapest, but also the fastest and least disruptive way to decarbonise transport networks in water-based cities”.
The pilot programme on the Bangor-to-Belfast route will be operated by Condor Ferries.
“It is incredibly exciting to unveil the designs for ‘Zero’, the next generation in ferry transport,” he said. “The addition of a Northern Ireland service expands our network while the service aligns perfectly with our sustainability drive.
“We look forward to continuing to develop the vessel alongside Artemis Technologies and the wider Belfast Maritime Consortium over the coming months.”
Artemis Technologies is the lead partner in the Belfast Maritime Consortium, a 14-member syndicate which has brought together a range of industry, academia and public bodies, including, Artemis Technologies, Ards and North Down Borough Council, Belfast City Council, Belfast Harbour, Belfast Met, Catalyst, Condor Ferries, Creative Composites, Invest Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Advanced Composites Engineering (NIACE), Power NI, Spirt AeroSystems, Ulster University, Queen’s University, Belfast.
The consortium was awarded £33 million by UKRI’s flagship Strength in Places Fund for the £60m project which will create 125 jobs initially but also assist Artemis Technologies in its ambitions to provide 1,000 new roles in the coming decade.
