Australia latest country to get electric flying ferries

Electric hydrofoiling ferries will soon be arriving ‘down under’ as New Zealand builder Vessev and local expert Enautic partner to bring a new kind of water transport to Perth, the continent’s fourth largest city.

Several Vessev VS–9 vessels have been reserved and will operate premium tourism experiences like wine cruises, twilight sailings and private charters. The plan is to expand to commuter route service in the future.

Vessev was founded in 2018 by Max Olson and Eric Laakmann, a former engineering program leader at Apple. Last year their flying ferries made their debut as the first certified electric hydrofoiling vessel to enter the fleet of a commercial operator (as opposed to publicly-owned municipal transport authority).

Two VS-9s are operated by New Zealand’s largest ferry transport and tourism operator, Fullers360. They each carry up to 10 passengers around Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour, providing panoramic views of the city, the Harbour Bridge and islands of the Huaraki Gulf. Vessev says the two units have logged close to 10,000 Nautical miles (18,500 km / 11,500 mi).

Hydrofoiling is a technology that uses foils – basically underwater airplane wings – that lift the boat out of the water, eliminating the water resistance of the hull. That means much less energy is required to move the boat, and there is almost no wake.

Energy usage can be reduced by as much as 85%, which is great for improving both the finances of the flying ferry operator and electric boat range – up to  50 nautical miles (92 km / 57 mi) in the case of the VS-9. The no-wake aspect is important for two reasons. In Auckland the main benefit is that the flying ferry can operate in sensitive waters without disturbing the ecosystem. In Perth the main benefit is that the VS-9 can go faster in restricted areas.

Where other large commercial ferries are typically limited to speeds of 5–8 knots ( 9-15 kph / 6-9 mph) along much of the Swan, the wake-free VS–9 can cruise at 25 knots (46 kph / 29 mph). This enables dramatically faster travel times and opens the door to a new model of water-based commuter and tourism transport.

Enautic, the Perth-based Australian company working with Vessev, started out as Electri.nautic in 2019, working with the University of Western Australia to develop the world’s first hydrofoiling jetski, the WaveFlyer.

Read about the beginnings of Enautic


In 2025 they expanded their horizons. In addition to producing and developing other small hydrofoilers – the RIB 310, Volaré and ROGUE – Enautic also works with companies like Vessev to promote electric propulsion and electric hydrofoiling in particular. One division, Little Ferry, operates a solar ferry in Perth and another, Aqua Flights, rents e-foiling boards on the Swan River. The Vessev arrangement is with Aqua Flights.

The project is being led by aerospace engineer and entrepreneur Josh Portlock, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Enautic Group.  Portlock says electric hydrofoiling represented a major opportunity to rethink how cities use their waterways.

“Hydrofoiling is what makes electric water transport genuinely viable. It delivers the speed, range and sustainability you need without compromise,” Portlock says. “The VS–9 is exactly the type of vessel that makes this model possible.”

Vessev is not alone. Swedish electric hydrofoiling developer Candela was the first company to have an operating vessel, which services a commuter route in Stockholm. MobyFly of Switzerland has had successful tests on Lake Geneva and the UK’s Artemis Technologies has delivered a 24 passenger ferry to Brittany Ferries in Belfast.

About Perth, Portlock says “Starting with premium tourism allows people to experience the technology first-hand while laying the groundwork for a future where electric hydrofoiling becomes one of the fastest and most sustainable ways to move around the city.”

Eric Laakmann of Vessev said the Australian announcement reflected growing global momentum for electric hydrofoiling. “We’re seeing cities around the world rediscovering their waterways because of what electric hydrofoiling unlocks. Australia is a natural fit, and businesses like the Enautic Group are leading that shift.”

The first vessels are expected to be delivered in early 2027. Vessev is working collaboratively with applicable classification societies and local regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with all local requirements for this innovative vessel type.

Vessev website  Enautic website

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