By
Alex Smith |
Transport venture Fly Derwent has announced plans to deploy a waterborne transit network in Hobart, Australia, in partnership with Vessev, a New Zealand-based developer and manufacturer of electric hydrofoiling passenger vessels.
The network will operate on the Derwent River using Vessev’s VS–9 vessel, with plans to expand to a fleet of larger VS–12 vessels. The service is intended to provide a high-frequency water transport option without the need for significant new infrastructure.
The vessels will be powered using Tasmania’s electricity grid, which is primarily supplied by renewable sources including hydropower, wind and solar.
Vessev’s VS–9 is a 29-foot electric hydrofoiling vessel with capacity for ten passengers, a range of up to 50 nautical miles and a cruising speed of 25 knots. The larger VS–12, at 37 feet, is designed to carry up to 30 passengers.
Both vessels use a foil system designed to adjust to operating conditions, reducing wake and improving ride stability. The design is intended to enable operation in waterways where minimising environmental impact is a requirement.
“From the very beginning this project has been about demonstrating how Tasmania’s renewable energy focus can translate into sustainable transport leadership,” said Cameron McCulloch, principal at Fly Derwent. “This technology unlocks affordable, river-based commuter and tourism transport in Hobart without the need for large-scale infrastructure changes. That’s what excites me most – not just the boats themselves, but everything they make possible in Hobart and beyond.”
“Our work with Cameron and Fly Derwent not only brings efficient and reliable transportation to Hobart, it also represents the beginning of a much larger shift in how cities think about on-the-water mobility,” said Eric Laakmann, co-founder and CEO of Vessev. “Electric hydrofoiling enables an entirely new category of water transport. Tasmania is a standout environment to demonstrate this at scale, where abundant renewable energy and strong local ambition come together to show what zero-emissions marine transport can look like.”
The first ‘VS–9’ vessel is expected to enter service in Hobart in early 2027, with additional ‘VS–12’ vessels to follow.