For release 31 July 2025
Artemis
Technologies, FRS Group,
Connected Places Catapult
and the Council of the Isles
of Scilly partner
to advance connectivity in Isles of Scilly
Artemis Technologies, a global leader in clean
maritime, has announced it is leading a feasibility study in partnership with international ferry operator FRS Group to establish a new UK Green
Shipping Corridor between Newlyn in
Cornwall and St Mary’s in the Isles
of Scilly.
The study will assess the technical and
commercial viability of deploying the Artemis EF-24 Passenger, a 100% electric,
high-speed hydrofoil ferry, to provide a reliable, year round passenger
and cargo service
on a route where no winter
ferry currently operates
and air travel
is frequently disrupted
by bad weather.
Powered by Artemis Technologies’
proprietary eFoiler® technology, the Artemis EF-24 Passenger flies above the
water on hydrofoils, dramatically reducing drag and energy use while ensuring a
smoother and more comfortable journey in rough seas. This cutting
edge solution operates
with zero emissions and reduced wake, offering a step change in both performance and environmental impact compared to traditional ferries.
Dr Iain Percy
OBE, CEO of Artemis Technologies, emphasised the
transformative potential of the project, stating:
“This study represents an exciting step toward transforming connectivity for the Isles of Scilly,
using our world-leading eFoiler® technology, to deliver a service
that is not only zero emission but faster, smoother
and more resilient in challenging sea conditions."
“Our
Artemis eFoiler® technology can make this vital route viable. By lifting
the vessel above the water, we dramatically reduce drag
and increase efficiency, helping to deliver a service that can operate reliably
year round.”
Alongside Artemis Technologies and FRS Group, the project brings together a consortium of partners including Connected Places Catapult and the Council of the Isles of Scilly. Together with local government, harbour authorities, and transport planners, the team will assess port-side charging needs, integration with local transport networks, and regulatory pathways to make the corridor a reality.
Moritz Bruns, Managing
Director of FRS International Division
GmbH, FRS Group, commented:
“By
combining operational expertise with innovative technology, this collaborative effort aims to explore how
zero-emission ferry services can be established
and delivered on challenging regional routes like the Isles of Scilly."
“We’re pleased
to work alongside professional partners
from the maritime and logistics
industries, as well as the local community, to support the broader transition
to clean maritime solutions.”
Speaking about of the importance of improving year-round connectivity for the community, Councillor Robert Francis,
the Chairman of the Council
of the Isles of Scilly, said:
“Currently, people travelling to or from
the Isles of Scilly during the winter months have very limited options. With no
regular ferry running and flights often cancelled due
to poor weather, the islands
can become effectively cut off."
“This project aims to change that by investigating if a new type of
high-speed zero-emission electric
ferry creating a green maritime
corridor which will provide a reliable, clean, and
affordable year-round transport link between Newlyn in Cornwall and St Mary's in the Isles of Scilly."
“The council is looking forward
to working with Artemis Technologies to see if this
new technology can bring a year-round ferry service to life not just for the
Isles of Scilly,
but for other island communities in the UK and around
the world."
Highlighting the collaborative nature
of the project, Richard Holland,
Head of Maritime at Connected Places
Catapult, said:
“We are delighted to be working with
project partners to support the electrification of ferries and the
establishment of new Green Shipping Corridors, which were highlighted by the Clydebank Declaration at the
COP26 climate change conference
in Glasgow."
“Many
residents of the Isles of Scilly depend
on regular and affordable transit,” he adds.
“Artemis Technologies’ pioneering hydrofoil
technology offers a solution that gives high speed, safe, efficient and clean movement of people and goods out to this archipelago in the Atlantic
Ocean, which is arguably one of the most challenging marine routes in
England.”
The Isles of Scilly Clean Maritime Corridor is funded by UK Government through the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme in the Department for Transport. UK SHORE has allocated over £230m since 2022 to develop the technologies necessary to decarbonise the UK maritime sector and capture the economic growth opportunity of the transition. Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the main delivery partner for UK SHORE interventions.
This project
is one of many projects
demonstrating and showcasing their project and technology around the UK in 2025, involving a
variety of vessel types and new infrastructure in ports and harbours.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
The Isles of Scilly Clean Maritime Corridor is funded by UK Government through the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme in the Department for Transport. UK SHORE has allocated over £230m since 2022 to over 247 projects, leveraging over £107m private investment. Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the main delivery partner for UK SHORE interventions, including the flagship CMDC and ZEVI competitions.
Maritime is a key sector which needs to find innovative solutions to its carbon
footprint in order to contribute to the UK’s decarbonisation agenda. The UK
SHORE programme is a key part of that work, supporting research and development
to unlock an industry-led transition towards Net Zero and deliver economic
growth, in line with the Government’s missions and the Plan for Change.
The UK SHORE programme consists
of multiple headline
projects situated all across the UK from Belfast and Orkney to Cornwall and Portsmouth and all
points in between – showcasing the exceptional, highly-skilled work being delivered throughout the UK economy.
UK SHORE is supporting 500 organisations, unlocking
investment potential in UK technologies, at UK ports and
at UK shipyards.
About Artemis Technologies
Based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Artemis Technologies is at the forefront of the maritime industry’s push towards
decarbonisation. Founded in 2017 by Dr. Iain Percy OBE, Artemis Technologies
recognised the urgent need to decarbonise high-speed maritime
transport and assembled
a team of industry-leading experts to integrate proven
technologies from yacht racing,
motorsport, and aerospace. This collaborative effort
led to the development of the patented Artemis
eFoiler® technology, a 100% electric,
hydrofoiling system that dramatically reduces drag and enhances energy
efficiency.
Artemis Technologies' social channels:
·
LinkedIn: artemis-technologies-ltd
·
Instagram: artemistechnologies
·
YouTube: @ArtemisTechnologies
The FRS Group, based
in Flensburg, northern
Germany, has grown over the past 150 years from a regional
shipping company into an internationally active
group with more than 1,500 employees. Today, FRS operates 70 ships worldwide and offers a wide range of
passenger and freight services. The group includes 14 operating subsidiaries
across Europe, North America, and the
Caribbean. In northern Germany, FRS is
one of the leading providers in inland waterway transport.
·
Homepage: frs.world
· LinkedIn: frsgroup
About Connected Places Catapult
Connected Places Catapult is the UK’s innovation accelerator for transport, the
built environment, cities and local growth. It provides impartial ‘innovation as a service’
for public bodies,
businesses, and infrastructure providers to
catalyse step-change improvements in the way people live, work and travel.
It
connects businesses and public sector leaders to cutting-edge research to spark innovation and grow new markets, and runs technology demonstrators and SME accelerators to scale new solutions that
drive growth, spread prosperity, and
reduce carbon emissions.
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cpcatapult
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvw6s_f9D7t3wLNA5F0WUVQ
About the Council of the Isles of Scilly
The
Council of the
Isles of Scilly was formed under
the Local Government Act 1888 and
came into being in 1891, enabling people living on the islands to elect their own representatives for the first time.
The council
has responsibilities and powers equal to those of mainland unitary authority to ensure that all aspects of the islands’
administration are tailored to the needs of the islands and the 2,200 inhabitants. This allows the council to provide services which meet
the unique needs of the people living so remotely from the mainland on the
five inhabited islands of St Mary’s,
Tresco, St Martin’s,
St Agnes and Bryher.
The council has 16 seats for elected
members: 12 from St Mary’s and 1 from each of the inhabited
off-islands. Elections are held every 4 years. The council
remains one of only two sui generis authorities in the United Kingdom,
the other being the City of London Corporation. This unusual status means that
some administrative law that applies in the rest of England applies in modified
form on the islands.
