We recently had the chance to take an up-close look at the 100% electric Artemis EF-12 Escape. The passenger hydrofoil ferry is one of the many vessels the UK-based company designed, and we might be seeing more of them in the near future as the company expands into the US.
Currently operating in the UK, EU, Asia, and the Middle East, Artemis Technologies is now expanding to the US. Artemis Technologies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), in a multimillion dollar deal with Delta Marine to help advance clean maritime solutions in the US.
Delta Marine is based in Washington State, home to the US largest fleet of passenger ferries. This update follows on from an earlier announcement to supply 20 of its cutting-edge hydrofoil vessels to Miami-based transport innovator, Urbanlink.
Artemis Technologies has been steadily increasing its footprint in the US. In 2024, the company opened a new office in Brooklyn, reinforcing its commitment to the North American market.
In addition, the UK-based company is going beyond passenger ferries and has designed vessels for workboats, offshore wind, pilot boats, and smart mobility.
The zero-emission hydrofoil technology allows these vessels to lift out of the water to reduce drag and increase efficiency, cutting energy consumption by up to 90% compared to traditional vessels.
While they do come at a steeper upfront cost than traditional vessels they’re also becoming more popular as maintenance costs tend to be much lower compared to diesel-powered boats. In addition, they don’t produce as much of a wake thanks to their reduced drag.
Combined with their patented software technology the vessel is significantly more stable while traveling making it ideal for passenger ferries. With the hydrofoil technology, Artemis Technologies managed to do some great work in automating the movement of the flaps underneath the vessel which resulted in a smooth ride.
Below is a video demonstrating more on how the technology works.
As for their other designs, the company makes a larger double-decker passenger vessel called the Artemis EF-24 Passenger Ferry. They also have the Artemis EF-12 and 24 versions of a Workboat, Pilot boat, crew transfer vessel, an Artemis EF-12 Workboat XL, an EF-20H Patrol boat, and the EF-12 Patrol boat.
Electrek’s take:
After my experience on the Artemis EF-12 Escape, I’m glad to see that the UK-based company is expanding to the US. Taking a look at the specs of their larger passenger ferry the Artemis EF-24 the vessel has range, capacity, and speed that is slightly better than NYC’s current water taxi vessels and after feeling the stability and luxury of the Escape I can only wish to have that kind of experience on an everyday commute. On top of that their fast charging claims that a full charge can be achieved in less than 60 minutes.
I don’t think municipalities like NYC with their decaying train system are going to put up the cash for these vessels anytime soon but it does seem like the future is heading in the right direction for Electrify Passenger Ferries, especially in the private sector.
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