Vessev’s elegant VS-9 electric foiling ferry makes sea travel smoother and more efficient

This is the new Vessev VS-9, and electric hydrofoiling ferry design for ferrying tourists across the waters around New Zealand. We’ve touched on the amazing properties of hydrofoil tech before, whether it’s for electric surfboards, one-off concept boats or private speed boats. Vessev’s design upscales all these to create an ultra-energy efficient machine for the country’s Fullers360 ferry company.

Established in 2018 and led by ex-Apple employee Eric Laakmann (he was a program lead on the Apple Watch) and Max Olson, Vessev’s ambition is for more zero-emission nautical innovation, both in terms of sport sailing and everyday transportation. The wider team has worked on everything from rocket science to the America’s Cup, and the VS-9 distils all this experience into a single product.

From the outset, Vessev wanted to be able to call the craft the ‘world’s most efficient electric hydrofoiling ferry,’ citing up to 95% fuel savings over a more conventional diesel counterpart. That’s due largely to the hydrofoil’s ability to minimise its drag on the water, raising itself up on a sophisticated carbon fibre foiling mechanism – part derived from America’s Cup craft – for a smooth, ultra efficient ride that’s up to 20% more efficient that equivalent foiling systems.

As Vessev points out, this technology is still very much in its infancy, with only around 100 electric hydro-foiling boats on the world’s oceans today. That contrasts with 33 million fossil fuel-powered vessels, helping make the shipping industry one of the most polluting transportation sectors.

The 9m long VS-9 is photographed here in prototype form without the passenger cabin, which is represented in the renders above. The VS-9 has an optimum speed of around 22-25 knots, at which point the foils are fully deployed, lifting the craft above the surface of the water. Efficiency doesn’t just reduce emissions but also operating costs, as well as reducing the need for heavy batteries. 

Fullers360 is expected to run a VS-9 with up to 10 passengers, sailing on routes that make the most of the boat’s combination of speed and efficiency. With a range of 50 nautical miles (around 57 miles), the VS-9 is well-suited to the waters of Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, where it’ll be the first hydrofoil vessel to receive commercial certification.

Vessev sees a bright future for the technology. As Laakmann says, ‘The benefits of the VS-9 scale up to larger vessels. We are already working to develop the VS-18, a 100-passenger vessel using the same technology and design of the VS-9, which will have additional seakeeping capability and unlock even more opportunities.’ 

Vessev VS-9, more information at Vessev.com, @Vessev.Marine