Hydrofoil passenger ferry could be coming to B.C. in the near future

The Artemis EF-12 Escape, a hydrofoil ferry produced by Artemis Technologies in Belfast, conducts a demo off of Victoria’s Inner Harbour.

The Artemis EF-12 Escape took to the waters off Victoria’s Inner Harbour Monday, and could one day be the future of passenger-only ferry service in B.C.

It’s fully electric and equipped with hydrofoils, or wings, underneath its hull, lifting the vessel out of the water while at cruising speed. The hydrofoils dramatically reduce its drag while travelling through the water, allowing it to reach speeds of up to 30 knots. That’s double the pace of a conventional ferry, all while using half the energy.

FRS Clipper has partnered with Victoria-based consulting group Greenline Ferries in bringing Artemis Technologies and the Escape to B.C. The group is looking at the feasibility of using this technology in the Pacific Northwest.

“This could be a game changer for the number of routes that we can supply to British Columbians,” said Mark Collins, CEO of FRS Clipper.

Collins said the technology is sustainable and cost-effective, with the price of a vessel being comparable to the cost of a conventional ferry, although it’s operating costs are much less.

FRS Clipper is considering an expansion between Bowen Island, Gibsons and downtown Vancouver. If that were to prove successful, the company said a route between Colwood’s Beachlands development and Victoria’s Inner Harbour would not be out of the question.

“We call them shortcuts, anywhere where you can connect the heart of one community to the heart of another community, that’s the opportunity for a passenger-only ferry,” said Callum Campbell, CEO of Greenline Ferries.

The Artemis EF-12 Escape is a water taxi version that could be configured to carry up to 30 passengers. FRS Clipper is exploring purchasing the EF-24 Passenger version that is capable of carrying up to 150 passengers, which Artemis will be rolling out later this year.

“It is a little small for our projections on the Victoria to Seattle route, however that doesn’t say that one day there could be two or even three operating alongside each other providing more frequency and more choices,” said Collins.

The seemingly floating vessel’s technology could offer a smoother ride in rough waters with a lighter environmental footprint.