A fully electric, 12 passenger hydrofoil vessel has been delivered in Orkney as part of the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme.
The deployment of Artemis Technologies’ Artemis EF-12 Workboat XL signals the start of trials to evaluate the vessel’s performance in the operating environment in Orkney. The vessel will then be put into service for a three-year trial that connects Kirkwall with Shapinsay, Egilsay, Wyre, and Rousay on four daily rotations.
Over the coming months, data will be collected to measure the vessel’s efficiency and operational performance. Insights gained from these trials will validate the technology and support wider adoption of maritime technology that enables zero-emission operations throughout Orkney and beyond. Accompanying the Artemis EF-12 Workboat XL in Orkney is the installation of an ultra-fast charger in Kirkwall, which will provide a full charge to the 12-metre vessel in under 60 minutes.