A new, fully electrically powered patrol boat has recently started operating in the port of Rotterdam.
The special feature of the vessel is that it is equipped with so-called “hydrofoils”, which lift it out of the water at high speeds. The port is currently testing whether further newbuilds should follow to renew the fleet.
The hydrofoil patrol boat (EF-12 Workboat) was designed by Artemis Technologies and sails for the Port of Rotterdam Authority. In future, it will bear the name “RPA Zero”, which refers to the emissions that the vessel emits during operation: none. At higher speeds, the hull of the hydrofoil is lifted out of the water, which reduces air resistance and wave motion and increases energy efficiency.
Rotterdam is already planning far ahead with the new construction. In the next 12 years, the Port Authority’s ships will reach the end of their technical service life. They want to use this opportunity to renew the entire fleet and make it more sustainable. Furthermore, maintenance processes are to be standardized and simplified. The “RPA Zero” will therefore initially be used to check whether a hydrofoil boat is suitable for the tasks of the harbour master’s department. The department ensures the safe flow of shipping traffic in Rotterdam, which is visited by 28,000 sea-going vessels and more than 90,000 inland vessels every year.
The management of the Port of Rotterdam Authority has set itself the goal of operating the new fleet as emission-free as possible in order to contribute to a sustainable port. Most importantly, the new vessels must be fit for purpose: They must be operational seven days a week, 24 hours a day, to ensure a clean, safe and efficient port.
Herman Verweij, Head of Ship and Environmental Safety at the Harbour Master’s Department, explains: “We want to be the smartest port and increasingly use modern tools in our control and monitoring tasks. We also want to be the most sustainable port, but in the event of incidents, we need to be able to respond quickly on the water.”
Rotterdam tests the benefits of hydrofoils
With this fully electric vessel from Artemis Technologies, the Port of Rotterdam Authority wants to test the potential benefits. Verweij: “Think of the minimal swell and the exceptional stability, even in choppy waters. For this reason, we are very interested in investigating whether and how electric hydrofoils can complement our operational resources.”
The pilot project will run until November 2025 and will be followed in the coming months by tests on the possible uses, opportunities and risks of hydrofoils in the fleet. The Fleet Renewal and Sustainability Program team, together with the crew and asset managers, will examine, among other things, the handling characteristics, the reliability of the vessels, the advantages and disadvantages of electric operation and recharging as well as the applicability within the scope of the Harbour Master’s Department’s tasks.
Artemis Technologies, a technology company based in Northern Ireland, wants to use the collaboration to prove that the hydrofoils are reliable and adaptable. “Working with the Port of Rotterdam Authority is an opportunity to demonstrate how our Artemis EF-12 workboat can help make nautical operations more sustainable,” said CEO Iain Percy. “We look forward to supporting the Port of Rotterdam in its efforts to achieve its sustainability goals while maintaining the highest standards of safety and efficiency.”
