A fully electric ferry with underwater wings broke the record by covering 300 km in three days

New world record for electric ferries

Swedish company Candela set a record in the class of fully electric vessels with underwater wings: P‑12 sailed 160 nautical miles (296 km) from Gothenburg to Oslo without deviations over three days. The route included several charging stops but did not require battery replacement – the vessel charged directly at the quay.

What is P‑12 and why it matters
* First serial electric ferry in the world with underwater wings.
* Production began in 2023, but it has already attracted serious orders: eight vessels for the Neom project in Saudi Arabia and plans to launch on U.S. lakes (e.g., Tahoe).
* Unlike large projects such as Baronen in Norway, where batteries are swapped after each 10‑mile (18.5 km) trip, P‑12 uses built‑in batteries that can simply be charged at the quay. This makes operation significantly more convenient.

How charging works
* During the voyage the vessel connected to existing port infrastructure.
* If suitable equipment was not available, mobile stations transported by trailers were used.
* According to the manufacturer, the total energy cost on this route was about €220.

Technical specifications
Parameter Value Cruise speed 25 knots (≈46 km/h) Max speed in tests 30 knots Range per charge at cruise speed ≈40 nautical miles (≈74 km) Capacity 30 passengers + crew

Why underwater wings matter
* Wings lift the hull above water when the ferry travels at 16 knots.
* This reduces water resistance and saves up to 80 % of energy compared with conventional vessels.

What’s next?
The record‑breaking flight of P‑12 demonstrates the viability of electric routes for short and medium distances, paving the way to replace diesel ships on regional routes. Candela already has major orders and plans expansion in the U.S., where travel times could be halved.

Thus, “flying” electric vessels are becoming a real alternative to traditional maritime transport and a key element of industry decarbonization.