Fastest electric passenger ship launches 2022

Swedish boatbuilder Candela’s foiling Candela P-30 will shuttle up to 30 passengers above the waves without wakes, noise and CO2 emissions, to and from the 30,000-island archipelago that stretches from the city centre. After sea trials, the P-30 will start commercial operation in 2023.

Candela’s director of public transportation, Erik Eklund, said: “Our goal is to prove that our electric hydrofoil ferries are much cheaper, more comfortable and a lot more versatile than conventional vessels. It’s not just an alternative to other ships, but a whole new take on of public transportation.”

Computer-controlled hydrofoils

Funded jointly by Candela and the Swedish transport authority, the P-30 flies on computer-controlled hydrofoils which reduce energy consumption by 80% compared to the best fast ferries of today. It can travel more than three hours at 20 knot cruise speeds before recharging.

Offering a smooth ride, the vessel features a Flight controller, a computer that analyses the boat’s pitch and roll a hundred times a second and automatically adjusts the foils to keep it level above the waves.

P-30 can also operate in urban waterways at higher speeds than traditional passenger boats because it creates virtually no wake.

The vessel, which is eventually expected to replace the city’s aging fleet of 60 diesel boats, consumes about 3kWh per nautical mile, which is one tenth of a conventional ship.

A recent report by the municipality of Stockholm estimates the overall cost of operating the Candela P-30 will be half the cost of conventional diesel ferries.

By Rebecca Jeffrey