EV Maritime, which is based in New Zealand, has been selected as the electric propulsion systems integrator for Western Australia’s first fleet of battery-electric ferries.
The company will work with Australian shipbuilder Echo Marine Group, which has been awarded a 66 million AUD contract by the Public Transport Authority (PTA) of Western Australia to design and build five electric ferries for the METRONET Swan Ferry Service Expansion programme.
The new 24-metre vessels will operate on the Swan River and represent the largest expansion of Perth’s ferry network to date. Naval architecture for the project is being provided by Australian firm One2three Naval Architects.
Under the contract, EV Maritime will be responsible for integrating the ferries’ electric propulsion systems, as well as engineering several key mechanical systems.
Michael Eaglen, Founder and CEO, EV Maritime said:We are delighted to announce EV Maritime’s key role in delivering another landmark maritime electrification project. We’re grateful to Echo Marine Group for trusting EV Maritime to deliver the integration package which underpins the capability of these vessels.
This project is immensely significant, both locally and internationally. We commend PTA for their bold vision and commitment to transport decarbonization. We are proud that EV Maritime has been chosen to deliver on this.
The project builds on EV Maritime’s experience delivering electric ferry technology for Auckland Transport, where the company designed, engineered and integrated the systems for two 24-metre EVM200 passenger ferries. Each carbon fibre vessel can carry up to 200 passengers and operates entirely on battery-electric propulsion.
Unlike the Auckland ferries, which are based on EV Maritime’s standardised EVM200 platform, the Perth vessels will feature a bespoke design developed to meet the Public Transport Authority’s operational requirements.
The project also marks a shift in EV Maritime’s business model, with the company focusing on electrical engineering and systems integration rather than undertaking complete vessel design.
The propulsion package for the Perth ferries builds on technology developed for the EVM200 platform while incorporating additional engineering innovations tailored to the new fleet.
Construction of the vessels will be carried out by Echo Marine Group in Western Australia. Once delivered, the ferries will become the state’s first battery-electric passenger ferry fleet.
