Artemis Technologies, an Irish maritime transport solutions company, has been awarded a contract to supply a 100 per cent electric Artemis EF-12 pilot boat to the Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA). This collaboration is intended to be a further step in Sweden's efforts to decarbonise the maritime sector.
The pilot boat is to be equipped with the eFoiler system from Artemis Technologies and will be the first pilot boat of its kind to be deployed in Nordic waters. The boat will provide important pilotage services for ships on Sweden's busy offshore shipping routes, supporting the overarching national goal of achieving net-zero emissions in maritime transport by 2045.
Realisation with America's Cup know-how
Hydrofoil technology lifts the hull above the water, minimising water resistance, optimising energy consumption and providing a smoother, quieter ride. Hydrofoil technology also significantly reduces the impact of wake, minimising disruption to marine ecosystems, coastlines and anchored boats, according to Artemis Technologies.
Managing Director is Dr Iain Percy, two-time Olympic champion and veteran of four America's Cup challenges. After retiring from Olympic competition in the Star boat in 2012, he joined Swedish America's Cup campaign Artemis Racing as tactician and was appointed team manager in October 2013. Percy reached the final of the Louis Vuitton challenger series in 2017. An economics graduate, he founded Artemis Technologies in 2017, headquartered in Belfast.
Our eFoiler technology represents the future of maritime transport." Ian Percy
What the Foil Pilot can do
The Artemis EF-12 Pilot reaches a top speed of 32 knots and has a range on wing of 55 nautical miles and is 100 per cent electrically powered. The boat is also said to be able to actively stabilise rolling, pitching and heeling movements during the pilot changeover in order to significantly minimise the risks associated with this critical but potentially dangerous operation.
Complex development
According to Artemis Technologies, during the 8-month feasibility study, data from Belfast Harbour's pilotage operations was collected and analysed to understand the typical work cycles and operational requirements of pilot vessels. An exact virtual copy of the existing Belfast Harbour pilot vessel was created and fed into a digital simulation to conduct a virtual study comparing the design of the Artemis EF-12 Pilot with this real pilot vessel.
Belfast Harbour stakeholders were involved throughout the process, validating the results of the study through virtual design evaluations, reviews of the results and virtual driving tests with the EF-12 pilot in a full-motion platform simulator. Artemis Racing also used a similar simulator for the Americ's Cup.
Not only fast, but also affordable
Analysis of the data collected during the research and testing phase has shown that the Artemis EF-12 Pilot provides significant cost savings over the expected lifetime of a vessel, prevents the release of CO2 and reduces the relative movements between pilot vessel and vessel during pilot transfers compared to vessels currently used in this sector of the port industry.
