The 3.1-tonne VS-9 was designed and built by Auckland start-up Vessev, in partnership with Fullers360, as a prototype/proof of concept. It proved so capable that Fullers decided to get Maritime NZ commercial approval for it. This is the first time a certified electric hydrofoiling vessel has been delivered to a private operator, said Vessev CEO Eric Laakman.
Vessev’s backers include Icehouse Ventures, Sir Stephen Tindall’s K1W1, Australasian VC firm Blackbird Ventures, US VC firm Shasta Ventures, founder and original CEO Max Olson (now Chief Technology Officer), and Laakmann himself. Laakman was development lead for the Apple Watch before embarking on a sailing sabbatical and becoming stranded in New Zealand by Covid border closures. He loved it here and never left.
Based in Mt Wellington, Vessev is in a major growth phase. A second VS-9 ferry for Fullers is due in mid-2025 and work has begun on a 19m 100-seater for commuter applications. Vessev has also sold a VS-9 to one of its backers for recreational use.
Boating New Zealand joined Laakman and representatives from Fullers360, along with a film crew for TV One News, for an on-water demonstration of the new tourism vessel.
VS-9 builds on foil technology developed by ETNZ for their hydrogen-electric America’s Cup chase boats, now used by all AC syndicates. When foiling, the vessel rides on a full beam Pi Foil forward and a T Foil aft, which also supports the drive. Both foils retract for operation at displacement speeds.
The foils are furnished with flaps, rather like an aircraft’s wing, and an Active Control System that updates the shape of the wing (the angle of the flaps) 100 times a second. VS-9 flies about a metre above the waves and can deal with wave heights up to around 1.5m.
VS-9 is configured to seat 10 passengers, plus two crew. Large windows ensure excellent vision all around and the crew provides a running commentary for guests. There’s a fair bit of high-pitched noise from the electric motor – less so with the rear doors closed – but a replacement custom electric motor is on its way, also for the second vessel, which is quieter and 15% more efficient, says Laakman.
During our demo, we transitioned from displacement to foiling speed, which is 19 knots, several times. Cruise speed is around 24 knots and top speed is 30 knots. Kermadec banks in the turns, like an aeroplane, and is hardly affected by choppy water. Sensors constantly monitor foil position and environmental parameters. The ride is eerily smooth and clever software takes care of trimming the vessel and compensates for any changes in wind, water or weight distribution while foiling.
The VS-9 has a range of around 50 miles on a charge, or 40 miles fully loaded. The electric motor, mounted on top of the T Foil, outputs the equivalent of 70hp (55kW) at 25 knots. One of the advantages of this design is that it does not require special infrastructure for recharging. A 90kW DC charger will give it a rate of eight nautical miles of range per 10 minutes of charging time, Laakman says. A portable 40kW charger will be bundled with the final product, the same as was used to top up Kermadec’s batteries before we left the dock.
Kermadec will soon be a familiar sight on the Waitemata Harbour in Fullers360 service, along with its twin later in 2025, but it is the technology’s scalability that’s really exciting. With the first 100-seater already under development, Vessev is leading the charge for tomorrow’s ferries: fast, electric and emissions free.
