Plugboats WAVES (Watts, Amps, Volts, Electrons) is a regular collection of electric boat and boating news items that we have written about before and are updating, or items we are going to write about but are waiting for more information / developments – or items that are just tidbits you might find interesting. Listen to this article as a podcast Here is WaVeS #31, with electric boat and boating news about: The Impressive results of the Hyke electric ferry real life trial Hobart, Tasmania get electric flying ferries by Vessev Groundbreaking solar deck wins Canadian start-up competition Valencia marina launches new electric clean-up boat Southern California gets an Aqua superPower high speed charger Nuclear powered superyachts a step closer Impressive results for Hyke electric ferry after 14-month trial The Hyke electric F-15 Shuttle, a winner of the 2024 Gussies Electric Boat Awards, has posted impressive numbers that show it requires up to 88 per cent less energy than similar size diesel vessels – using roughly the same amount of power as five household hair dryers. It also had a passenger satisfaction rating of 4.72 out of 5. From April 2024 to July 2025, the fully electric, 50-passenger ferry operated as part of the municipal transport system of Fredrikstad, Norway, carrying more than 41,000 passengers in daily operation. The route covered a 225-metre river crossing with an average crossing time of approximately two minutes, demonstrating a high-frequency urban transport application. The test provided a direct comparison of electric ferry vs diesel within the public transport network. Halvor Vislie, CEO of Hyke, says: “The project shows that our urban waters can be used much more efficiently. Instead of digging tunnels or building bridges, which are hugely costly, electric ferries can quickly be deployed to shuttle large numbers of passengers. It’s time to rethink urban planning by putting waterways at the centre. Together with Fredrikstad Municipality, we’ve demonstrated that the Hyke F-15 can operate as part of everyday public transport – efficiently, quietly and with strong passenger acceptance.” Following these results Hyke is focussing on scaling its business through additional vessel builds and the establishment of a joint venture with one of the largest transport operators in Norway. Hyke website Vessev hydofoiling e-ferries expand to Tasmania network Vessev, the New Zealand builder of electric hydrofoiling ferries, announced just over a month ago that they would be providing Australia’s first electric hydrofoiling ferries in Perth. They are now expanding their down under presence with another network in Hobart, on the island of Tasmania. Fly Derwent, a new clean energy transport venture, will launch the network on the Derwent River, reconnecting Hobart’s thriving waterfront using Vessev’s VS–9 models with expansion to a fleet of VS–12 vessels. The 29-foot VS–9 carries 10 passengers with a range of up to 50 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 25 knots, while the 37-foot VS–12 can carry up to 30 passengers. Together, the system will create a high-frequency water transit network, without requiring major new infrastructure. Powered by Tasmania’s world-leading grid, which runs on almost 100% on renewable electricity sources including wind and solar, the service is designed to deliver one of the planet’s lowest-emissions commuter transport models. Read: Australia latest country to get electric flying ferries Fly Derwent Principal Cameron McCulloch, an engineer with nearly 20 years of executive experience in the clean energy sector, said the network will be more like a metro system than a traditional ferry service. “From the very beginning this project has been about demonstrating how Tasmania’s renewable energy focus can translate into sustainable transport leadership. This technology unlocks affordable, river-based commuter and tourism transport in Hobart without the need for large-scale infrastructure changes. That’s what excites me most – not just the boats themselves, but everything they make possible in Hobart and beyond,” McCulloch said. The VS–9 is expected to arrive in Hobart in early 2027, with the VS–12 fleet to follow. Vessev website Canadian marine solar company wins startup competition Open Waters Solar, a British Columbia company founded in 2016, has developed a special composite material that suspends solar cells inside a protective layer to combine structural rigidity with enough flexibility for a number of different applications, including marine. One of the company’s flagship products is SolaDek, a durable, power-generating deck surface for boats that has non-slip coating for walkability. It was developed because the company founders were frustrated by fragile and inefficient marine solar designs that came with bulky frames and sometimes miselading claims. In the inaugural ‘Beaver’s Den’ competition, a Canadian riff on the popular Shark Tank franchise, pre-Series A companies were invited to vie for a chance to win cash and exposure at Vancouver Science World. Twenty-five startups were selected as finalists, with the top five pitching live in late April. The winners were Open Waters Solar. “We’re honoured to come out on top,” said Niki Kearl from the victorious team. “We’ve developed a solution that delivers true durability, flexibility, and performance for those who seek the best and we went into this process with a strong data room, clear commercialization, and real market traction.” Open Waters Solar website Spanish marina gets electric clean up boat The Marina Port Valencia in Spain has taken delivery of an electric cleaning boat designed to keep its waters pristine while also contributing to the commitments of the Marina’s sustainability strategy and that of parent company Marina Norte. The “NetBoat’, a CatClean 75 model from builder Ona Safe & Clean, measures 7.5 metres in length with a 2.5-metre beam, delivering a hydrocarbon retention capacity of up to 2,000 litres alongside an approximate cleaning capacity of 8.89 km² per hour. NetBoat is constructed from certified marine-grade aluminum and designed with a catamaran-style hull. Its electric propulsion system with incorporated solar panels enables it to work up to sixteen hours each day. The silence of the system also means it can operate without disrupting the yachting community or visitors. The technology onboard was developed specifically for water cleaning, with a multi-task system that collects floating waste, removes hydrocarbons and surface oils, and oxygenates the water as it operates, actively enhancing environmental conditions across the marina – in the air as well as the water. At the launch, Patrick Reynés, CEO of Marina Port Valencia, emphasized that “NetBoat isn’t just a cleaning tool, but a statement of intent about the marina model we want to build for the future. It is part of a broader roadmap centred around innovation, decarbonization and active conservation of the Mediterranean.” Ona Safe & Clean website Marina Port Valencia website Premier California marina gets Aqua superPower high speed charger One of the premier marinas in one of the largest recreational harbours in the United States – Marina Park in Newport Beach, California – now has an operating marine fast charger from Aqua superPower. This milestone deployment in one of the world’s prime boating locales is a significant step forward in supporting the burgeoning adoption of electric boats along the region’s iconic Pacific coastline. The Aqua charger is capable of delivering up to 24 kW of power via the international CCS standard and is specifically designed for the marine environments to ensure safe and reliable recharging for a wide range of electric vessels, from leisure craft to commercial operators. Last year, Newport Beach Harbor Department became the first public agency in the U.S. to add a boat powered entirely by electricity to its fleet of vehicles with a Vita workboat. That boat has been charged using standard voltage but will now be able to access the high speed charger, along with all other electric boats based in or travelling through the area. Read: Vita grows clean California fleet of electric boats “This installation represents a gamechanger for Southern California’s boating community,” said Scott Canning, US VP Business Development for Aqua superPower. “Newport Beach is a gateway to pristine coastal waters, and by bringing our fast-charging infrastructure here, we’re not just powering electric boats—we’re fuelling a sustainable future for marine electrification. Our brand-agnostic technology supports every major electric boat manufacturer, making the switch to e-boating seamless and accessible for all.” Aqua superPower’s global network now spans over 60 installations across Europe, North America, and beyond, with plans for further expansions in high-traffic Southern California areas like San Diego and Santa Barbara. Aqua superPower website Nuclear powered electric superyachts closer than imagined? Superyachts, simply because of their sheer size and weight, are one of the hardest types of vessels to equip with a practical all-electric propulsion system. Nuclear energy – in which reactors heat water to create steam to drive turbines to generate electricity to power electric motors – has been used since 1958 on military submarines – and has been mentioned as a possibility for superyachts many times. I was at the World Yachting Summit in Monaco last summer where Tobias Kohl of mtu Rolls Royce suggested it may be feasible sooner than many people realize. Safety has been one obvious issue standing in the way, but now a system from AMPERA may take away many of those concerns, and they are working with Scorpio Tankers of Monaco to develop and deploy nuclear-powere
