Electric Hydrofoil Ferry
For the first time in history, a production all-electric ferry boat travelled from one continent to another when the Candela C-8 hydrofoiled from Sotogrande, Spain, to Ceuta, North Africa in just over one hour, matching the speed of conventional fast ferries. The record-setting voyage of 24 nautical miles (27 mi / 44 km) was undertaken to demonstrate the potential of Candela’s new electric hydrofoil ferry to deliver clean, cost-efficient transport across the Strait and along the Spanish coast. A similar 12 passenger boat is already hard at work in Sweden taking commuters from Stockholm’s Ekerö suburb to the city center in the world’s first all-electric hydrofoil ferry service. The Swedish-made vessel traveled from Sotogrande, Spain, to Ceuta, North Africa—a 24- nautical mile trip—in just over one hour. After recharging, the vessel returned to the Spanish mainland the same day.
The corridor from Spain / Gibraltar to Africa has over 3.5 million crossings every year, dominated by large diesel car ferries that primarily serve major hubs. The P-12 can’t carry a car, but it can be a complement to those services carrying just passengers. If someone doesn’t live in one of the central hubs, they still have a time-consuming trip after their diesel ferry ride to get to their final destination. Fast direct routes served by all-electric P-12s can provide access for those underserved coastal communities. “There’s a clear need for additional fast, clean, and efficient travel options across the Mediterranean—and for direct lines that wouldn’t be economically viable with larger, conventional vessels,” said the CEO of Candela and pilot during the crossing.
Beneath the surface of the Candela, two hydrofoils—or underwater wings—lift the C-8 above the water, drastically reducing drag and cutting energy consumption by 80% over conventional vessels. This breakthrough enables the long electric range needed to cross the Strait of Gibraltar—one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes—for the first time. Sitting where cold Atlantic waters meet the warmer Mediterranean, the strait is known for strong currents and unpredictable seas, making bouncing conditions challenging for smaller vessels and uncomfortable for passengers prone to seasickness. This made it an ideal test for Candela’s computer-controlled hydrofoil system, which is often described as a “magic pill” for motion sickness. Using sensors to detect waves, wind, and current, the system automatically adjusts the hydrofoils up to 100 times per second—delivering a ride that feels more like flying than boating. During the voyage, the Candela C-8 used just 40 kWh of energy, about $10 worth. By comparison, the similarly sized gasoline-powered photo boat burned over 10 gallons of fuel, costing around $100.
Ferry funnies
Where was the documentary of the Dover – Calais ferry broadcast?
On the English Channel
A dentist opened an office on a boat. What was the boat’s name?
The “Tooth Ferry.”
What is brown and comes out of Cowes backwards?
The Isle of Wight ferry.
A monk practiced levitation meditation for 20 years! One day Buddha came to town. So he ran to town and exclaimed to Buddha, “I have practiced levitation meditation for 20 years and now I can walk on water. Let me sit and chant and meditate to show you.”
Buddha looked at the man and said, ” Yeah, but the ferry boat is only $2.”
June 23rd Birthdays
1972 – Selma Blair, 1988 – Chellsie Memmel, 1992 – Bridget Sloan, 1990 – Allie Beetram
1911 – David Ogilvy, 1952 – Clarence Thomas, 1976 – Brandon Stokley, 1912 – Alan Turing