A sleek, carbon-fibre vessel rose quietly out of the Inner Harbour on Monday morning and cut across the water with barely a ripple.
The 12-person ferry 香蕉视频直播� powered entirely by electricity and lifted on 'underwater wings' 香蕉视频直播� was on public display in Victoria for the first time, part of a demonstration that could reshape how Greater Victoria commutes.
Among the routes being explored: a downtown Victoria to Royal Bay connection that could dramatically reduce travel time for West Shore residents.
That potential route is starting to look even more realistic with the development of The Beachlands.
Victoria-based firms Greenline Ferries and FRS Clipper joined forces with Northern Ireland香蕉视频直播檚 Artemis Technologies to bring the demo to Victoria, and hope to continue their collaboration by eventually bringing the ferries to Victoria.
The vessel uses cutting-edge hydrofoil technology that lifts it out of the water as it accelerates 香蕉视频直播� a move that slashes drag, conserves energy, and delivers a ride that香蕉视频直播檚 faster, quieter, and drastically more efficient than conventional ferries.
香蕉视频直播淭his vessel is totally capable of handling a route like Royal Bay to Victoria,香蕉视频直播� said FRS Clipper CEO Mark Collins. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a game changer 香蕉视频直播� smoother, faster, and far more sustainable than anything we香蕉视频直播檝e used before.香蕉视频直播�
The goal, according to Collins and Greenline founder and CEO Callum Campbell, is to open up entirely new water-based transportation corridors across the province.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 this idea that our ferry network is set in stone,香蕉视频直播� Campbell said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut it was built around the needs of the 1960s. We have different communities now, different pressures. It香蕉视频直播檚 time to redraw the map.香蕉视频直播�
The electric ferry on display 香蕉视频直播� the EF-12 香蕉视频直播� is part of a broader line of vessels developed by Artemis Technologies.
It runs on four onboard battery packs and uses 70-90 per cent less energy than a standard ferry, according to Artemis co-founder and North America managing director David Tyler.
香蕉视频直播淎s the boat accelerates, it creates lift and flies above the water,香蕉视频直播� Tyler said. 香蕉视频直播淭hat reduces drag and energy use dramatically 香蕉视频直播� and it makes for a very quiet, very comfortable ride.香蕉视频直播�
Larger versions, such as the EF-24, capable of carrying 150 passengers, are already being built and are set to enter service in Belfast.
香蕉视频直播淰ictoria is absolutely ideal for this technology,香蕉视频直播� Campbell said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 expensive and time-consuming to build new roads or bridges, especially in coastal regions. This is a fast, zero-emission way to improve connections right now.香蕉视频直播�
Campbell launched Green Line Ferries in 2022 with an eye on improving commuter connections between Gibsons, Bowen Island, and downtown Vancouver.
Public engagement began last year, and Campbell said support has been strong, particularly from people fed up with highway congestion and long commute times.
They're aiming to confirm a terminal in downtown Vancouver, with operations slated to start with connections to Gibsons and Bowen Island by 2027.
香蕉视频直播淲hat we香蕉视频直播檙e building is for daily users,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淐ommuters who want a faster, more efficient way to get to work 香蕉视频直播� and something that doesn香蕉视频直播檛 involve being stuck in traffic.香蕉视频直播�
Early proposals suggest fares between $18 and $28 for routes like Bowen Island to Vancouver, with a similar pricing model likely if the Victoria-Royal Bay route moves forward.
With two EF-24, 150-passenger ferries, Campbell said the service could move over 1,000 people per day.
And the ride itself? It香蕉视频直播檚 not just efficient 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 smooth.
香蕉视频直播淚t probably takes out 75 to 90 per cent of the motion you香蕉视频直播檇 feel on a normal ferry,香蕉视频直播� Collins said. 香蕉视频直播淭hat means a lot less seasickness, and a much better experience even at high speeds.香蕉视频直播�
The ferry is also nearly silent thanks to its electric motors 香蕉视频直播� a feature that not only improves rider experience but reduces noise pollution in marine environments.
香蕉视频直播淲e see it as a more competitive case using all-electric ferries,香蕉视频直播� Campbell said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e cheaper to run, cheaper to maintain, and the environmental benefits are huge.香蕉视频直播�
While Monday香蕉视频直播檚 demonstration was limited to the smaller EF-12 passenger vessel, the technology is scalable, and Collins said they香蕉视频直播檙e already thinking about its application to other B.C. routes, including the existing Victoria香蕉视频直播揝eattle corridor.
香蕉视频直播淭his is no longer a futuristic idea,香蕉视频直播� Tyler said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a ready-made solution that香蕉视频直播檚 already working in Europe. Now it香蕉视频直播檚 about political will, community interest, and making the right connections.香蕉视频直播�
Following their departure from Victoria, they will stop in Vancouver (June 20), Bowen Island (June 21), and Gibsons (June 22), before wrapping up with technical trials June 23-25.
After Monday香蕉视频直播檚 demo, those connections seem closer than ever 香蕉视频直播� and for Greater Victoria, the future of ferries may already be flying.
