As Perth edges towards river ferries, on Monday (April 20) in Tasmania, Fly Derwent and New Zealand marine innovator Vessev announced plans to launch an electric hydrofoiling network on the Derwent River.
Importantly, it will create a transport network that needs no big infrastructure investment or upgrades.
The plan is to start with a VS–9 — Vessev’s flagship 10-seater, 9m, fully electric hydrofoiling catamaran. It lifts above the water on carbon fibre foils.
The project team has also reserved 30-passenger VS–12s.
The VS–9 is expected to arrive in Tasmania in early 2027 and Vessev is working with Fly Derwent to get the VS–12 quickly.
Vessev is the New Zealand company also planning to supply hydrofoiling ferries for the Swan River in Perth.
Fly Derwent principal is Cameron McCulloch, a Hobart engineer with nearly 20 years of executive experience in the clean energy sector.
He says the vision is to transform river, lake and coastal transport in Tasmania.
“This world-leading 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.
“It’s an entirely new mode of transport that enables us to use waterways in a way that is more like a metro system than a ferry service,” Cameron tells us.
Vessev’s hydrofoiling vessels cruise at around 25 knots.
They produce virtually no wake while foiling, so can operate at higher speeds without damaging sensitive riverbanks, which is critical for regulatory approval and long-term environmental stewardship.
Cameron says: “We explored more conventional electric vessels, but they couldn’t solve the core challenges of range, efficiency and wake in Tasmania’s sensitive river environments.
“Hydrofoiling changes that completely, lifting the hull clear of the water, reducing drag and unlocking the efficiency needed to deliver commercial services on electric power alone.”
WATER POWERS WATER
Tasmania’s electricity generation is already close to 100 per cent over a typical year.
It is powered predominantly by hydropower, with wind and solar complimenting this.
As the Fly Derwent fleet will draw from this, it will literally be water powering water.
“Tasmania has been ahead of the clean energy curve since the late 1800s and remains at the forefront of renewable energy today,” Cameron says.
“This project demonstrates how that advantage can translate into leadership in sustainable transport, reducing environmental impact and operating costs, while insulating the State from reliance on imported diesel and the volatility of fossil fuels.”
Hydrofoiling is very energy efficient, and the VS–9 requires what the team calls “a modest amount of energy to fully charge, comparable to a standard EV”.
They are also exploring other charging solutions, including on-site battery storage, vehicle-to-grid integration, and mobile charging infrastructure to support future routes.
VESSEV LEG-UP
Monday’s announcement also represents the first order of Vessev’s VS–12 globally.
And Vessev CEO Eric Laakmann says this is the beginning of a much bigger shift in how cities think about water mobility.
“Electric hydrofoiling enables an entirely new category of water transport,” he explains.
“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 in the real world.
“With projects now underway in both Tasmania and Perth, we’re seeing genuine momentum build in Australia. Almost every major city has waterways sitting largely unused for passenger transport and electric hydrofoiling changes that.”
PREMIUM TOURISM
The first stage of Fly Derwent will focus on commuter and premium tourism.
It plans to reconnect Hobart’s thriving waterfront tourism hub.
Based out of the Hobart waterfront, the network will span the full length of the Derwent River, servicing 60km from New Norfolk to Opossum Bay.
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails