A distinctive new vessel has recently made its debut in the Port of Rotterdam: the Port of Rotterdam Authority’s fully electric hydrofoil patrol vessel. The vessel forms part of a pilot scheme for the Port of Rotterdam Authority’s fleet renewal programme.
The new hydrofoil patrol vessel, the Artemis EF-12 Workboat has been named RPA ZERO, a reference to its zero emissions capability. As the vessel accelerates, the hull of a hydrofoil lifts clear of the water, reducing drag and wave impact while increasing energy efficiency.
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Fleet renewal
Over the next twelve years, the Port of Rotterdam Authority’s vessels will reach the end of their technical service life. The Port of Rotterdam Authority is seizing this opportunity to renew its entire fleet, enhance sustainability and standardise and simplify maintenance processes. This pilot will assess the suitability of a hydrofoil vessel for the Harbour Master’s Division’s tasks.
The Port Authority’s executive board has expressed its ambition to make the new fleet as emission-free as possible, thereby contributing to a more sustainable port. It is paramount that the new vessels are fit for purpose. Therefore, they must be deployable 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure a clean, safe and efficient port.
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Assessing opportunities and risks
The pilot scheme will run until November 2025. In the coming months, tests will be conducted to assess the applications, opportunities and risks of hydrofoil vessels within the fleet. The Fleet Renewal and Sustainability Programme team, alongside the crew and asset managers, will evaluate sailing behaviour, vessel reliability, the benefits and challenges of electric power and charging, as well as the vessel’s suitability for the Harbour Master’s Division’s tasks.
For the pilot scheme, the Port of Rotterdam Authority is leasing a vessel from Artemis Technologies. The collaboration is to demonstrate the reliability and adaptability of its hydrofoil vessels. ‘Collaboration with the Port of Rotterdam Authority is an exciting opportunity to demonstrate how our Artemis EF-12 Workboat can contribute to decarbonising port operations,’ says Dr Iain Percy OBE, CEO of Artemis Technologies.
Picture: At higher speeds, the hull of a hydrofoil is “lifted” out of the water, reducing drag and wave formation (photo by IJsbreker TV).
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