Condor to run electric-powered ferry service in Northern Ireland

The Channel Islands ferry operator has joined forces with a maritime consortium of technology businesses, public bodies and academic establishments to develop a new electric-powered ferry.

It has become the operational partner of the Belfast Maritime Consortium, which is looking to introduce zero-emission ferries using innovative technology, currently under development by the Belfast-based Artemis Technologies.

A pilot scheme is targeting a launch service in 2024 that would see Condor operate a 150-seat commuter passenger route between Belfast’s Titanic Quarter and Bangor Marina. The anticipated journey time would be 30 minutes, providing a greener solution to commuters along one of the busiest traffic routes in Northern Ireland.

‘Condor and our shareholder CTI are looking to the future and this includes exploring ways of reducing our carbon emissions and finding ways to provide more sustainable travel solutions,’ said John Napton, Condor’s chief executive officer.

‘We are also acutely aware that international legislation may well impact all ship operators over the next 5-10 years so it is prudent to be involved in this exciting project now.

‘As an experienced ferry company, we are happy to accept the invitation to join the consortium and help develop this technology for commercial use.’

As for potential spin-offs for Channel Island operations, Condor Ferries said there was nothing to say at the moment.

The battery-powered ships will use the Artemis ‘eFoiler’ system – derived from the America’s Cup race series – which Condor Ferries described as enabling the vessels to fly above the water, producing minimal wake at high-speed and using up to 90% less energy than some conventional ferries.

Dr Iain Percy, chief executive officer and founder of Artemis Technologies, said Condor joining the consortium was a significant endorsement of the work it was doing and marked another milestone in its journey towards leading the decarbonisation of the maritime industry.

The Belfast Maritime Consortium is a 14-member syndicate that has brought together Artemis Technologies, Ards and North Down Borough Council, Belfast City Council, Belfast Harbour, Belfast Met, Catalyst, Condor Ferries, Creative Composites, Invest Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Advanced Composites Engineering (NIACE), Power NI, Spirit AeroSystems, Ulster University, and Queen’s University, Belfast.