A sleek, carbon-fibre vessel rose quietly out of the Inner Harbour on Monday morning and cut across the water with barely a ripple.
The 12-person ferry 鈥� powered entirely by electricity and lifted on 'underwater wings' 鈥� was on public display in Victoria for the first time, part of a demonstration that could reshape how Greater Victoria commutes.
Among the routes being explored: a downtown Victoria to Royal Bay connection that could dramatically reduce travel time for West Shore residents.
That potential route is starting to look even more realistic with the development of The Beachlands.
Victoria-based firms Greenline Ferries and FRS Clipper joined forces with Northern Ireland鈥檚 Artemis Technologies to bring the demo to Victoria, and hope to continue their collaboration by eventually bringing the ferries to Victoria.
The vessel uses cutting-edge hydrofoil technology that lifts it out of the water as it accelerates 鈥� a move that slashes drag, conserves energy, and delivers a ride that鈥檚 faster, quieter, and drastically more efficient than conventional ferries.
鈥淭his vessel is totally capable of handling a route like Royal Bay to Victoria,鈥� said FRS Clipper CEO Mark Collins. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a game changer 鈥� smoother, faster, and far more sustainable than anything we鈥檝e used before.鈥�
The goal, according to Collins and Greenline founder and CEO Callum Campbell, is to open up entirely new water-based transportation corridors across the province.
鈥淭here鈥檚 this idea that our ferry network is set in stone,鈥� Campbell said. 鈥淏ut it was built around the needs of the 1960s. We have different communities now, different pressures. It鈥檚 time to redraw the map.鈥�
The electric ferry on display 鈥� the EF-12 鈥� is part of a broader line of vessels developed by Artemis Technologies.
It runs on four onboard battery packs and uses 70-90 per cent less energy than a standard ferry, according to Artemis co-founder and North America managing director David Tyler.
鈥淎s the boat accelerates, it creates lift and flies above the water,鈥� Tyler said. 鈥淭hat reduces drag and energy use dramatically 鈥� and it makes for a very quiet, very comfortable ride.鈥�
Larger versions, such as the EF-24, capable of carrying 150 passengers, are already being built and are set to enter service in Belfast.
鈥淰ictoria is absolutely ideal for this technology,鈥� Campbell said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 expensive and time-consuming to build new roads or bridges, especially in coastal regions. This is a fast, zero-emission way to improve connections right now.鈥�
Campbell launched Green Line Ferries in 2022 with an eye on improving commuter connections between Gibsons, Bowen Island, and downtown Vancouver.
Public engagement began last year, and Campbell said support has been strong, particularly from people fed up with highway congestion and long commute times.
They're aiming to confirm a terminal in downtown Vancouver, with operations slated to start with connections to Gibsons and Bowen Island by 2027.
鈥淲hat we鈥檙e building is for daily users,鈥� he said. 鈥淐ommuters who want a faster, more efficient way to get to work 鈥� and something that doesn鈥檛 involve being stuck in traffic.鈥�
Early proposals suggest fares between $18 and $28 for routes like Bowen Island to Vancouver, with a similar pricing model likely if the Victoria-Royal Bay route moves forward.
With two EF-24, 150-passenger ferries, Campbell said the service could move over 1,000 people per day.
And the ride itself? It鈥檚 not just efficient 鈥� it鈥檚 smooth.
鈥淚t probably takes out 75 to 90 per cent of the motion you鈥檇 feel on a normal ferry,鈥� Collins said. 鈥淭hat means a lot less seasickness, and a much better experience even at high speeds.鈥�
The ferry is also nearly silent thanks to its electric motors 鈥� a feature that not only improves rider experience but reduces noise pollution in marine environments.
鈥淲e see it as a more competitive case using all-electric ferries,鈥� Campbell said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e cheaper to run, cheaper to maintain, and the environmental benefits are huge.鈥�
While Monday鈥檚 demonstration was limited to the smaller EF-12 passenger vessel, the technology is scalable, and Collins said they鈥檙e already thinking about its application to other B.C. routes, including the existing Victoria鈥揝eattle corridor.
鈥淭his is no longer a futuristic idea,鈥� Tyler said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a ready-made solution that鈥檚 already working in Europe. Now it鈥檚 about political will, community interest, and making the right connections.鈥�
Following their departure from Victoria, they will stop in Vancouver (June 20), Bowen Island (June 21), and Gibsons (June 22), before wrapping up with technical trials June 23-25.
After Monday鈥檚 demo, those connections seem closer than ever 鈥� and for Greater Victoria, the future of ferries may already be flying.
