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Scientists Discover Way to Send Information into Black Holes Without Using Energy

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World’s First 100% Electric Hydrofoil Pilot Boat Takes to the Water, Promising a Cleaner Future for Global Ports

The shipping industry is taking a major step toward a cleaner future. Belfast-based clean maritime company Artemis Technologies has launched the Artemis EF-12 Pilot, the world's first 100% electric hydrofoil pilot boat. The revolutionary vessel has officially entered the water and is now undergoing sea trials, marking a significant milestone in sustainable maritime transportation.

Unlike traditional diesel-powered pilot boats, the Artemis EF-12 uses advanced hydrofoil technology that lifts the vessel above the water while cruising. This dramatically reduces water resistance, lowers energy consumption, and produces zero emissions, making it an important innovation for ports aiming to reduce their environmental impact.

A New Generation of Pilot Boats

Pilot boats play one of the most important roles in the shipping industry. Their job is to transport highly trained harbor pilots to and from large cargo ships entering or leaving ports.

Harbor pilots are expert local navigators who guide massive vessels safely through narrow waterways, busy harbors, and difficult coastal areas. Boarding these moving ships is often considered one of the most dangerous jobs at sea. Pilots must transfer from a small boat onto a much larger ship, sometimes in rough weather and heavy waves.

Because of these demanding conditions, conventional pilot boats are built to be extremely strong, stable, and powerful. They rely on large diesel engines capable of generating enormous amounts of horsepower to battle rough seas and maintain precise control.

However, this strength comes at a cost. Traditional pilot boats consume large amounts of fuel, produce significant carbon emissions, create loud engine noise, and generate powerful wakes that can damage shorelines and disturb nearby vessels.

The Artemis EF-12 aims to solve these challenges through a completely different approach.

Flying Above the Water

Instead of fighting the waves, the Artemis EF-12 rises above them.

The vessel uses the company's patented Artemis eFoiler technology. Once it reaches operating speed, underwater wings called hydrofoils lift the carbon-fiber boat completely out of the water.

With only the hydrofoils remaining beneath the surface, the boat experiences far less water resistance, also known as hydrodynamic drag.

Reducing drag means the vessel requires much less energy to travel at high speeds. At the same time, it creates only a small wake compared to conventional boats, helping protect coastlines, docks, and nearby anchored ships.

This innovative design also provides a much smoother ride by avoiding much of the impact caused by rough waves.

Built for Safety

Safety remains the highest priority for pilot boat operations.

According to Dr. Iain Percy, CEO of Artemis Technologies, the EF-12 Pilot applies proven hydrofoil technology to meet the demanding requirements of harbor pilot transfers while delivering a fully electric, efficient solution for ports around the world.

Unlike many recreational hydrofoil boats, the Artemis EF-12 is purpose-built for professional commercial operations.

Its advanced flight control system continuously adjusts the vessel's height above the water while actively controlling roll and pitch. This keeps the deck remarkably stable, even when traveling at high speed or encountering rough sea conditions.

The stable platform makes it safer for harbor pilots to board and leave large ships during transfer operations.

The vessel has also been designed with excellent visibility, an optimized deck layout, and carefully planned workspaces to support safe and efficient pilot transfers throughout the day.

Strong Enough for Tough Jobs

Although the Artemis EF-12 is lightweight thanks to its carbon-fiber construction, it is also built to withstand demanding maritime operations.

Traditional pilot boats often come alongside enormous cargo ships that may weigh hundreds of thousands of tons. These repeated impacts require exceptionally durable construction.

The Artemis EF-12 includes reinforced structural components and heavy-duty protective fenders made from durable materials such as elastomers, polyurethane, or foam-filled systems.

Its deep-V hull is designed to handle rough coastal waters while maintaining excellent seaworthiness.

These engineering features ensure the vessel can safely perform daily operations without compromising durability or crew safety.

Fast Performance with Zero Emissions

One of the biggest achievements of the Artemis EF-12 is that it delivers impressive performance without burning a single drop of diesel fuel.

The vessel reaches a top speed of 32 knots, or approximately 37 miles per hour (60 km/h).

It offers a foiling range of 45 to 55 nautical miles, equivalent to roughly 52 to 63 miles (84 to 101 kilometers) on a single charge.

Charging is also designed for commercial use. Thanks to ultra-fast DC charging technology, the battery can be fully recharged in under one hour, allowing operators to quickly return the vessel to service.

Since pilot boats operate on frequent daily schedules, rapid charging is essential for minimizing downtime.

Much Quieter and More Comfortable

Noise and vibration are common problems on traditional diesel-powered pilot boats.

Large engines create constant mechanical vibrations that can cause crew fatigue and discomfort during long working days.

The electric Artemis EF-12 offers a dramatically different experience.

During simulations and real-world trials, crews reported experiencing up to six times fewer body vibrations than aboard conventional diesel vessels.

The electric propulsion system is also much quieter, reducing noise pollution both inside the vessel and around busy port areas.

The smoother ride not only improves crew comfort but may also reduce long-term physical strain for pilots and operators.

Helping Ports Go Green

Ports around the world are under increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Shipping remains one of the largest contributors to global transportation emissions, and many governments are introducing stricter environmental regulations.

While much attention focuses on large cargo ships, smaller support vessels like pilot boats also consume significant amounts of diesel fuel because they operate almost continuously every day.

Electrifying these high-use vessels offers an effective way to reduce emissions immediately.

Since the Artemis EF-12 produces zero exhaust emissions during operation, it helps ports move closer to their climate goals while lowering fuel and maintenance costs over time.

Its reduced wake also minimizes environmental damage to sensitive coastal ecosystems.

Early Customers Already On Board

Interest in the Artemis EF-12 has been strong even before the completion of sea trials.

The company has already secured orders from several major international maritime organizations.

These include Brabo in Belgium, the Swedish Maritime Administration, Noatum Maritime in Abu Dhabi, and the Port of Tyne in the United Kingdom.

These early customers demonstrate growing confidence that electric hydrofoil technology can successfully replace conventional diesel pilot boats in everyday commercial operations.

The Artemis EF-12 is available in both Single Propulsion and Dual Propulsion versions and can carry up to four passengers, making it suitable for a variety of harbor operations.

A Glimpse Into the Future of Maritime Transport

The launch of the Artemis EF-12 represents far more than just another electric boat. It signals a major shift in how commercial vessels may operate in the coming decades.

By combining electric propulsion, hydrofoil technology, advanced flight control systems, and rapid charging capabilities, Artemis Technologies has created a vessel that delivers high performance while dramatically reducing environmental impact.

If the sea trials continue successfully and more ports adopt the technology, hydrofoil electric vessels could become a common sight in harbors around the world.

As governments and shipping companies work toward cleaner transportation, innovations like the Artemis EF-12 show that sustainable maritime operations are no longer a distant vision—they are already becoming reality.

The world's first fully electric hydrofoil pilot boat may only be the beginning of a much larger transformation in the future of shipping.

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