Water-transport startup Vessev today revealed its VS-9 hydrofoiling vessel and it announced it is partnering with Fullers360, New Zealand’s largest ferry operator, to introduce the first fully electric passenger vessel to operate in Auckland and the first hydrofoiling tourism vessel to operate in the world. NetZero Maritime, Fullers360’s “green” maritime technology and innovation team, played a pivotal role in the vessel’s adoption.

“It’s our intention for Fullers360 to be 100% electric or hydrogen operated by 2040, and foiling is absolutely a part of that vision for us,” said Mike Horne, Fullers360’s CEO. “The establishment of NetZero Maritime has enabled us to dedicate a team to enabling zero-emissions projects, with the VS-9 being the first fully electric passenger vessel to operate in Auckland.”

Auckland is quickly becoming a case study for the adoption of green technology and the IP within NetZero Maritime is playing a fundamental role in accelerating understanding and adoption globally, according to Horne.

“Seeing this project come to fruition reinforces our move to establish NetZero Maritime to enable the commercialization of new technology such as the VS-9,” he said. “The VS-9 combines the first fully electric passenger vessel to operate in Auckland with the latest hydrofoiling technology to deliver premium tourism experiences. Our understanding is that there are currently no electric hydrofoiling vessels certified for commercial tourism use in the world and the testing done here in New Zealand will set a new standard for bringing this new class of vessel into service globally.”

Designed and built by Vessev, the VS-9 is currently undergoing sea trials out of Auckland. Plans call for it to be certified this year and enter commercial operation with Fullers360 afterward. EECA, Icehouse Ventures, and K1W1 have supported the effort.

“We are in the earliest stage of a global transition to sustainable energy use,” said Eric Laakmann, Vessev CEO. “Our partnership with NetZero Maritime is one of the most powerful in the world in accelerating the adoption of new technologies. There are 33 million vessels in the world today, with sustainable vessels representing the smallest fraction. Through significant enhancements in efficiency, hydrofoiling will play a key role in this once-in-a-generation shift.”

The Vessev news follows an announcement by Swedish boatbuilding startup Candela in March that its new P-12 electric hydrofoil ferry will provide daily transport in 2025 for staff and contractors of New Zealand’s Manapōuri Power Station, the country’s largest hydroelectric power station. It will replace passenger service performed using a diesel-powered ferry. (See Futurride’s story on that here.)

 

Propelling a more liveable world

The VS-9 is engineered to deliver premium experiences and completely transform how people travel on the water. Its hydrofoiling technology enables the vessel to glide above waves to provide what is said to be an experience like traveling in a quiet airplane.

“Customers will glide across the Hauraki Gulf enjoying smooth travel that feels more like flying than sailing thanks to the foils that slice through waves usually uncomfortable for a vessel of this size to operate in,” explained Horne. “This means that rolling sensation you feel on traditional boats just disappears when the VS-9 enters foiling mode, creating an onboard experience unmatched by conventional vessels.”

The VS-9 is 8.95 m (29.4 ft) long and weighs 4 t (4.4 ton) fully loaded with ten passengers. The battery-electric craft has a 25-kt (46-km/h) cruise speed and 30-kt (55 km/h) top speed. The range is up to 50 nmi (57 mi or 93 km) at 25 kt.

Max Olson founded Vessev, the startup formerly known as Seachange, in 2018 to “propel a more liveable world” where greater access to waterways creates better commutes, reductions in road traffic, new routes to affordable housing, closer connections with nature, better tourism experiences, and clean air and clean waters. Based in New Zealand, the company is now led by CEO Laakmann, a former Apple Watch engineering program lead, and CTO Olson. It combines state-of-the-art technology created for sport sailing with vehicle electrification and robotics to bring high-efficiency electric hydrofoiling technology into the commercial marine space.

Vessev’s ethos is “engineered for safety, built to last, and impact through performance,” according to Laakmann. The company’s team collective experience includes Ph.Ds. in hydrodynamics/control theory, spanning key industries and technologies from building America’s Cup-winning racing yachts to delivering orbital rockets into space, creating international technology products, and designing hundreds of boats including several world-first electric vessels.

Its marine engineers, boat builders, and Fullers360’s NetZero Maritime decarbonization team have ensured the VS-9 is designed and built to commercial and tourism transport requirements.

“The development and commercialization of the VS-9 unlocks entirely new possibilities on the water enabling a shift toward more efficient, more reliable, and more comfortable marine transport,” said Laakmann. “The VS-9 will enable thousands of new routes around the world that are currently impractical for traditional vessels.”

He expects substantially reduced costs in maintaining and fueling versus traditional vessels. Vessev’s technology reduces energy consumption by up to 95% and significantly reduces operational costs.

“We expect that in almost any commercial application, the lifetime cost of ownership of these vessels will be substantially less than comparable fossil-fuel vessels,” he said. “That is not including any additional revenue for operators which may come from operating vessels that deliver the best possible passenger experiences.”

 

Efficient foiling and accessible charging

Vessev’s engineers used some of the techniques employed by winning America’s Cup teams to make its systems ultra-efficient and resilient. The VS-9 features ultra-high-authority hydrofoil systems with foils that change shape using high-precision flaps to optimize efficiency. This enables the vessel to handle adverse weather and provide better seakeeping than other technologies.

“To our knowledge, the VS-9 will be the only certified passenger electric hydrofoiling vessel to utilize this technology,” said Laakmann. “That means we can handle more wind and bigger seas. The system is more difficult to engineer up-front but results in a very performant vessel that is both more capable and more efficient. The VS-9 is so efficient that we are able to use very safe and longer-lasting battery technologies when compared to other vessels of this type.”

The VS-9, constructed using carbon-fiber laminates, has foil stabilization systems that operate at 12 kt (22 km/h), actively reducing pitch and roll motion even when not fully on foils and “flying.” The vessel takes off at 18-19 kt (33-35 km/h), transitioning from foil assist to full foiling mode, and cruises with optimum efficiency between 22-25 kt (41-46 km/h). The foils are fully retractable for maximum durability, to enable operation in shallow water, and protection for transportation by trailer.

“The ability to remove the foils from the water completely is a design element we’re particularly proud of,” said Laakmann. “We were told it would be impractical, but we’ve delivered a system that makes it easy for operators to maintain pristine foils for maximum efficiency. To our knowledge, the VS-9 will be the only certified passenger electric hydrofoil in the world capable of this.”

 

Breaking down barriers

The VS-9 can be charged at up to 90 kW using existing electric infrastructure commonly available in most marinas, accelerating its speed to service. Once high-speed DC charging is in place, recharge times will be up to 0.8 nmi (1.5 km) of range per minute will be possible.

“Our objective is to break down the barriers to adopting electric vessels,” said Laakmann. “From the outset, our goal was to design a commercial electric vessel that can use the charging capacity already available in many marinas to run serious commercial businesses.”

Sea trials have been running up to three test sessions a day using a standard AC three-phase connection.

“We think that operators and tourism businesses around the world will see the benefit in that,” he said.

The VS-9 entered the water for the first time earlier this month at Auckland’s Westhaven Marina, where it is undergoing sea trials and risk mitigation testing before gaining certification by Maritime New Zealand.

Vessev is working on further enhancements to performance and applying this to larger foiling vessels with a capacity for more passengers suitable for a range of routes.

“The benefits of the VS-9 scale up to larger vessels,” concluded Laakmann. “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.”