Red Funnel and Artemis Technologies have unveiled a zero-emission high-speed ferry for the south coast Isle of Wight route.
The Artemis EF-24 ie-foiling passenger ferry is expected to be operational by late 2025 on the Southampton to West Cowes route.
This route is currently serviced by Red Jets 6 and 7. The electric ferry will use hydrofoil propulsion technology to reduce air pollution and noise, as well as enhance passenger comfort by gliding smoothly over waves.
Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel said:We have been working with Artemis Technologies for several months to develop this partnership, and we are delighted to reach this exciting milestone as part of our journey to decarbonise our fleet. Delivering first-class service to our customers is our priority and the Artemis EF-24 passenger ferry will provide speed, comfort and reliability as well as significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
The introduction of the Artemis EF-24 Passenger is set to cut carbon emissions by up to 3,700 tonnes of CO2e annually. With renewable electricity, this reduction could reach approximately 4,150 tonnes of CO2e each year.
This marks a significant milestone in the maritime industry’s journey towards decarbonisation as the first zero-emissions commercial service between the South Coast and the Isle of Wight.
