What is a hydrofoil vessel? World's first all-electric hydrofoil pilot boat begins sea trials, vows to cut 1,200 tonnes of carbon emissions per year

The Artemis EF-12 Pilot, the world's first all-electric hydrofoil pilot boat, has begun sea trials after its recent launch, marking a major push for clean energy in maritime operations.

This zero-emission vessel from Belfast-based Artemis Technologies will be used specifically for the transfer of harbour pilots to and from ports and large ships.

At the heart of this boat is Artemis' proprietary eFoiler propulsion platform, which has already been in service for over four years, and is currently also a part of the EF-12 Workboat, which has been undergoing sea trials by the Port of Rotterdam Authority since 2025.

The EF-12 Pilot also comes with a specific deck layout that boosts pilot safety, in addition to an active flight control system that helps it maintain a stable performance across a range of weather and tidal conditions.

An active flight control system is designed to maintain stable performance across a range of weather and sea conditions. Artemis has also tailored the deck layout to meet the specific operational and safety requirements of pilot transfer services.

Designed to carry up to four people at a speed of 25-30 knots, the EF-12 Pilot has a foiling range of 45 nautical miles.

From a sustainability standpoint, Artemis has also promised that the EF-12 Pilot will slash the 450-800 litres of diesel typically used by regular pilot boats—in addition to the 1,200 tonnes of CO₂ emissions that come with such diesel vessels.

The new pilot boat, which will later be available in two variants: a single-propeller variant and a double-propeller variant.

This has already attracted interest from port authorities such as Brabo (Belgium), the Swedish Maritime Administration, Noatum Maritime (Abu Dhabi) and the Port of Tyne (UK).

What is a hydrofoil vessel?

The term hydrofoil actually refers to a type of underwater wing(s) attached to a vessel that pushes the hull out of the water during transit. However, vessels using this technology have also come to be known as hydrofoils or hydrofoil vessels over time.

The point of such vessels is to reduce drag from waves hitting the hull as with regular vessels, which increases energy efficiency, ease of handling, and reduces wake (the waves of water that form behind a vessel when it is moving).

By making hydrofoil pilot boats, the point has been to reduce the risk and energy consumption associated with transferring harbour pilots to and from ships and the shore, which often takes place in choppy waters.