An evolutionary development in water travel pulled up and docked at the Port of Olympia on May 8, amid a backdrop of local dignitaries and special guests who gathered to get a feel for what future passenger ferry service could look like in Washington.
Dozens of people stood and looked on as the Artemis EF-12 Escape water taxi whisked by Port Plaza before quietly making its way back toward a dock and berthing on a sunny, late afternoon day.
The low level of noise is a byproduct of its 100 percent, electric power source that creates zero emissions while powering a boat that feels like it glides effortlessly atop the water on the back of hydrofoil technology.
The crew of the Artemis treated guests and media to short hops across Budd Inlet to give them a sort of test drive to feel out the boat. The 39-foot EF-12, which was developed by Artemis Technologies of Belfast, Northern Ireland, carried 12 passengers per trip, including City of Olympia Mayor Dontae Payne.
“I thought it was an incredible ride, it’s an incredible piece of technology,” said Payne, who was among the first group of people to get a ride on the boat, which boasts a top speed of approximately 30 knots and a cruising speed of 24 to 25 knots.
He also expressed excitement about what a future with a water taxi service could look like for the region.
“I see an incredible opportunity for boosting economic development, particularly for the port.”
Port of Olympia Commission President Jasmine Vasavada echoed those sentiments, adding that the potential benefits could reach well beyond South Puget Sound.
“We have a demonstration of new electric hydrofoil technology. … And the opportunity we’re seeing is for those sorts of boats to be built here in Washington state,” she said.
“So the Port of Olympia has been looking at this. Many constituents have told me they would love to see passenger service.”
Vasavada said port officials have discussed the passenger ferry issue many times over the last couple of decades, but it has encountered stumbling blocks, such as practicality.
“What has never come up is (feasibility) … in part because (of) the time it takes to get through the Tacoma Narrows,” she said.
“You have to slow down. A lot of these hydrofoil ferries have very little wake, and so they don’t have to slow down as much. And suddenly it becomes feasible to have pretty much net zero carbon reliable service in the same amount of time it would take you to drive a passenger car to Seattle.”
Vasavada said she could see passenger ferry service come to fruition within the next five years, in part because the technology is already in the field, but other things would also have to fall into place.
“The question is just whether local governments can come together in partnership to develop a financing plan,” she said. “A well operated passenger ferry service can typically recover 60 to 70 percent of its cost just from ticket sales … Where do you get the other 30 to 40 percent?”
In the meantime, the crew from Artemis Technologies is on a mission to continue promoting its boat and the technology that powers its vessel. The crew was scheduled to head to Vancouver, British Columbia, after its stop in Olympia.
“And then I think there’s (possibly) a couple of more demonstrations,” said Rory Faulkner, who is part of the company’s field operations team that was in Olympia. “She’s not going back to Ireland anytime soon.”
10 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Snevets
Very cool! Electric, hydrofoil.
Monday, May 12 Report this
KatAshe
What would the routes be?
Monday, May 12 Report this
Boatyarddog
Truth is this Idea will never become popular here in Olympia. Its Idea is to give Longshore something to do here because Log Ships are going dead due to the Sagging Economy caused by a swaggering Adminestration of Fear and isloation.
Monday, May 12 Report this
JulesJames
Bus service from downtown Oly to SeaTac costs $17 and takes 90 minutes. An electric ferry will take 90 minutes, plus a transfer to a shuttle bus from the Des Moines waterfront to SeaTac. As much as I wish, this doesn't pencil to profitable.
Monday, May 12 Report this
jimlazar
This is a lovely boat, and an encouraging technology. But there is no application for it here in Olympia. It's not like there is a crying need for a 12-passenger ferry to go to Hartstine Island.
Tacoma and Seattle are too far. It's 30 minutes to drive to Tacoma (60 in traffic), and maybe 75 minutes to Seattle. The train to Seattle is about 90 minutes. This boat is slower than that, particularly when you consider the need for local ground transport on arrival at the dock. At least the bus and the train drop you in the heart of Seattle or Tacoma.
The Kitsap ferry to Seattle has a total cost (capital, operating staff, maintenance, fuel) of about $50 per rider; ~85% is tax-subsidized, and the passenger pays $14 for a round-trip, not the $100 it costs. Do we really want to encourage a ferry that costs more than it's worth, requires huge subsidies, and takes longer than driving or the train.
If we had a destination that was a 10 minute ferry ride vs. a 1 hour drive (Hartstine Island), this would sense, but it's not like there are dozens of people wanting to commute back and forth to Hartstine Island.
But it is cool technology, and there are certainly places where it would make sense. Not here.
Tuesday, May 13 Report this
KarenM
Some questions:
Do you want the Port to be involved in a ferry service that doesn't seem like it can be profitable? Would you be willing to pay taxes for the Port to operate this or contract to have it operated? Would you be willing to pay your taxes to have the Port build the land-side dock and other support for this ferry?
I don't have a problem with a private business trying to make this work. I do have a problem with using tax dollars to support this ferry business. As another commenter had noted, we have reasonable options for transportation to Tacoma, Seattle, SeaTac airport.
Tuesday, May 13 Report this
HarryBranch
Boats use more fuel because of resistance and propeller design. Batteries will add weight reducing capacity. Hydrofoils have not taken over commercial or military use because of instability trying to turn in waves and decreased efficiency at low speeds.
Tuesday, May 13 Report this
jimLacey
High speed, quiet, little wake. Seems like it could make life unpleasant for marine mammals.
Tuesday, May 13 Report this
MrCommonSense
Maybe for tourists would pay full cost to tour the harbor but not viable for ferry service. Please focus on our homeless issues, affordable housing issues, sidewalk issues, parking issues.....etc. Hope you enjoyed the ride.
Thanks.
Tuesday, May 13 Report this
Boatyarddog
Not to mention whats going to happen when it strikes a deadhead or submerged log traveling at 25Kts. And the Port Knows we have alot of those in The PNW. But truthfully Saftey is NOT a Concern of tje Port of Olympia. Evidenced by the multitudes of Clean air and Clean water violations the Port Has, they've been in Litigation Many Times before for such Ill planned Ventures
Thursday, May 15 Report this