Vulkan UK has provided the electrical design knowledge and power profiles for the Silver Raven – said be the UK’s first fully electric sightseeing vessel – which is slated to begin operations in autumn 2025.
Commissioned by Woods Tours, designed by One2Three Naval Architects and built at Pendennis Shipyard in Cornwall, the 39m Silver Raven will carry up to 250 passengers per voyage.
The vessel will navigate London’s central waterways, in a move that is said to demonstrate that large-scale passenger operations can be carried out efficiently and sustainably with electric propulsion.
At the center of the vessel is a battery system specified by Vulkan UK, the EST Floattech Octopus Series. The system, which is designed for rapid charging between tours, is said to have be chosen for its durability, efficiency and ability to power multiple daily journeys.
The Silver Raven vessel is part of the UK’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC4), funded by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered by Innovate UK.
CMDC4 is part of the DfT’s UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) program, a £206m (US$276m) initiative focused on developing the technology necessary to decarbonize the UK domestic maritime sector.
Adrian Birkin, managing director of Vulkan UK, said, “The Silver Raven is more than a boat – it is a statement of intent about the future of clean maritime transport in Britain. Our team is proud to have designed the power solution that will keep the vessel running smoothly and silently in one of the busiest stretches of water in the world. This project proves that advanced engineering developed here in the UK can set new standards internationally.”
In related news, Candela will deliver 10 electric hydrofoil ferries for Thailand’s Koh Kood route