Vessev launches world’s first electric hydrofoiling passenger vessel

Vessev has launched what it claims to be the first fully electric hydrofoiling vessel for passenger transportation to operate in Auckland and the first hydrofoiling tourism vessel to operate in the world.

The VS-9, was designed and built by Vessev (formerly Seachange). It is undergoing sea trials out of Auckland, New Zealand, and the first VS-9 will be certified in 2024 before entering commercial operation with Fullers360. The 9m VS-9 will transport up to 10 passengers at a service speed of 25kts. It has a range of 50 nautical miles (92.6km) thanks to its hydrofoiling technology.

The VS-9 entered the water for the first time earlier in May 2024 at Auckland’s Westhaven Marina, where it is undergoing robust sea trials and risk mitigation testing before gaining certification from Maritime New Zealand. The VS-9 is on track to be the first vessel of its kind in the world to be certified for commercial use.

Efficient foiling technology

The VS-9 reportedly features ultra-high-authority hydrofoil systems, where the foils change shape using high-precision flaps under the water to optimize efficiency. This enables the VS-9 to handle adverse weather and provides far better seakeeping than other technologies. Vessev’s engineers used some of the same techniques employed by winning America’s Cup teams to make the VS-9’s systems ultra-efficient and resilient.

Vessev’s technology reduces energy consumption by up to 95%, significantly reducing operational costs. The energy efficiencies deliver much faster charging, more range and energy cost savings already evident after just two weeks of sea trials.

Eric Laakmann, CEO of Vessev, explained, “To put it into perspective, the VS-9 is undergoing on-water testing with a petrol-powered chase boat following, doing the same motions and distance. At the end of each day, the cost of the petrol fueling the chase boat is 25 times the cost of the electricity used to charge the VS-9.”

Mike Horne, CEO of Fullers360, said, “It’s our intention for Fullers360 to be 100% electric or hydrogen operated by 2040 and foiling is absolutely a part of that vision for us. The establishment of NetZero Maritime has enabled us to dedicate a team to enabling zero-emissions projects, with the VS-9 being the first fully electric passenger vessel to operate in Auckland.

“The VS-9 combines the first fully electric passenger vessel to operate in Auckland with the latest hydrofoiling technology to deliver premium tourism experiences. Our understanding is there are currently no electric hydrofoiling vessels certified for commercial tourism use in the world. The testing done here in New Zealand will set a new standard for bringing this new class of vessel into service globally.”

Enhanced stability

The VS-9’s foils enable it to ride completely above the waves, providing a smoother passenger experience than conventional vessels and enhancing its operational capability. The VS-9 takes off at 18-19kts, transitioning from foil assist to full foiling mode, and cruises with optimum efficiency between 22 and 25kts. The foil stabilization systems enter operation at 12kts, actively reducing pitch and roll motion, even when not fully on foils and ‘flying’. For maximum durability, the VS-9’s foils are fully retractable, which enables the vessel to operate in shallow water and protects the foils so the vessel can be transported on a trailer.

Accessible charging capability

The VS-9 is so efficient that it can be charged using existing electric charging infrastructure commonly available in most marinas, accelerating the speed-to-service. Once high-speed DC charging is in place, recharge times will be up to 0.8 nautical miles of range per minute of charging.

In related news, Candela Technology recently completed test flights of its electric hydrofoiling passenger vessel, the Candela P-12. Click here to read the full story.