Hydrofoil ferry service returns to Stockholm
The first unit, nicknamed Nova, took a short break from service due to winter ice, but will now increase its weekly capacity. The vessel reportedly reduces travel time on a popular commuter route by 50% to only half an hour, where it would normally take one hour. As a result, Region Stockholm says most departures have been fully booked and has resulted in a 30% increase in riders on route 89 – the waterway route that is also served by diesel-powered ferries. It has reportedly carried a total of 2,326 passengers on a total of 120 journeys so far.
Gustav Kasselskog, CEO and founder of Candela, said: “Demonstrating that the technology is mature and fit for demanding public transport use is important. This is the third generation of our foiling technology, and with lessons learned from producing over 100 leisure vessels, we’re scaling up production to meet demand.”
The P-12 itself has a cruising speed of 25 knots, which Candela claims makes it the fastest electric ship in the world, outpacing Stockholm’s fastest diesel-powered ferries. Like other hydrofoil-based passenger boats, it uses hydrofoils to lift the hull above water and reduce friction and energy consumption. Candela’s vessels use a ‘Flight controller,’ which provides stabilisation in water by sensing wave height, wind speed and other factors. The company states that, as a result, passengers experience 90 per cent less G-force than on a traditional boat.
The P-12 was launched in 2024 as Candela’s first commercial models, following a number of hydrofoil leisure models including the C-7 and C-8. There are clear connections with the automotive industry, with the C-8 using the same 69kWh battery pack as the Polestar 2. In September 2023, the C-8 broke a world record by covering 777 km in under 24 hours. Intermediate DC charges during the trial reportedly took the vessel’s state of charge from approx. 13 to 66 per cent in roughly 18 minutes.
The P-12 itself has been purchased by customers in various markets including Saudi Arabia, New Zealand and the USA. Other firms, such as Vessev, are also producing electric hydrofoil passenger vessels, but these are largely used for commercial leisure purposes rather than public transport.
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