Flying commuter ferries to free up Mumbai

The P-12 boats will act as commuter ferries connecting parts of the city to form what Candela calls the nucleus of its electric transport network, which will eventually be comprised of thousands of electric vessels, under the plans.

“This is a ground-breaking project that unlocks the full potential of Mumbai’s waterways for efficient commuting – and by investing in hydrofoil technology, the city is leapfrogging legacy waterborne transport systems,” said Candela CEO Gustav Hasselskog.

The potential is huge for Candela, as Mumbai is the financial capital of India and one of the fastest growing cities in the world with around 22 million inhabitants, according to World Population Review. The government of the Maharashtra state that Mumbai is in has laid out ambitious plans to ’revolutionise transport in the megacity’ by using the ’underused asset’ – the sea.

The first Candela P-12 vessels in Mumbai will serve two of the city’s most heavily trafficked routes on water: between the Gateway of India and Alibaug — a journey that typically takes 2-3 hours by car — and from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island. Another line is being planned by JalVimana to connect the new airport with central Mumbai, with expected travel times reduced from 1 hour and 30 minutes to less than 30 minutes.

“We believe Candela’s next-generation P-12 will be a giant leap for Mumbai and towards our national goals of a sustainable future for our vast Indian coastline and inland waterways. JalVimana is honoured to bring this Swedish gift to our ancient shores,” said the CEO of operator JalVimana Niraj Thakur.

Candela’s contract win is a sign of the growing popularity of hydrofoiling vessels, particularly in the ferry sector, with Artemis Technologies recently agreeing a contract with Isle of Wight ferry operator Red Funnel to begin a potential fleet replacement programme, and Seawork Award winner Vessev already operating its vessels in New Zealand.