Cutting-edge vessel charts new course for decarbonising offshore crew transfer operations

The project showcased the revolutionary Artemis eFoiler® electric propulsion system, which aims to drive down carbon emissions in global CTV operations. The successful demonstration marks a major milestone for Artemis Technologies. 

Vattenfall supports UK businesses like Artemis Technologies test and demonstrate their game-changing technology through our partnership with Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult. Vattenfall and ORE Catapult have been collaborating since 2019 at the Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm (also known as the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre, or EOWDC). This partnership focuses on testing and demonstrating innovative offshore wind technologies in real-world conditions. In April 2024, the collaboration was extended for another three years, through to the end of 2026. 

The Aberdeen site, with its 11 turbines and 96.8 MW capacity, serves as a testbed for technologies aimed at improving safety, reducing environmental impact, and lowering the cost of offshore wind energy.

The Artemis eFoiler® CTV demonstration project is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme in the Department for Transport. UK SHORE has allocated over £200m since 2022 to develop the technologies necessary to decarbonise the UK maritime sector and capture the economic growth opportunity of the transition. 

During the demonstration the Artemis EF-12 CTV successfully executed multiple bollard push manoeuvres on the wind turbines in a variety of wave and weather conditions, showcasing the capability of the dual propulsion electric foiling vessel which further cements Artemis Technologies’ technical capabilities. The Artemis EF-12 CTV provides a quick and comfortable journey for crew from port to wind farm, foiling above the waves to help reduce the impact on the body and mitigate seasickness.

The successful completion of this demonstration highlights the value of cross-industry collaboration in addressing the evolving needs of offshore wind operations. As the sector continues to grow, partnerships like this play a vital role in supporting the development and adoption of the latest maritime technologies. 

Tidal Transit, specialists in electrified offshore wind farm access, provided crew transfer vessel operational expertise for the Artemis EF-12 CTV at our wind farm.

Kenneth Henriksen, Product Manager at Vattenfall, commented, “Facilitating this demonstration was an important step in supporting the decarbonisation of wind farm operations. At Vattenfall we’re always keen to support new technology that aims to reduce the environmental impact of our work, whilst improving the efficiency of operations.”

Leo Hambro, commercial director of Tidal Transit, commented, “Artemis Technologies’ next generation eFoiler® has set a new standard in electric crew transfer. At Tidal Transit, we’re proud to have supported Artemis Technologies in demonstrating the operational benefits and practical applications of E-CTVs in the field, and we look forward to collaborating further as we continue our collective mission to decarbonise the offshore wind industry.”

Dr Iain Percy, CEO of Artemis Technologies said, “We are committed to developing technology that contributes to the decarbonisation of the maritime industry. This technical demonstration provided an essential platform to test the capabilities of the dual propulsion Artemis EF-12 CTV. This included operating in a variety of sea and weather conditions and performing critical bollard push manoeuvres, in order to demonstrate the vessel’s stability, efficiency, and performance.” 

Additional information  

Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm

• Also known as the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre, the Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm is located about 2 miles off the coast of Aberdeen.
• It has eleven 8.8 MW Vestas turbines, which at the time of construction were the most powerful in the world.
• The wind farm has a capacity of 96.8 MW and has been operational since July 2018.
• Each year, the wind farm removes the equivalent of 35,000 cars from UK roads through CO2 displacement (over 134,000 tonnes annually).
• The Aberdeen Wind Farm is used as a site for testing and demonstrating the latest innovation and technology in the offshore wind industry, in partnership with ORE Catapult.
• Vattenfall are proud to facilitate demonstrations of incredible projects which can go on to transform the industry.
• The site is also home to important environmental studies, such as research into seabird flight behaviour using radar and AI, bottlenose dolphin monitoring, guillemot tagging, and salmon and sea trout tracking.

To date, the wind farm’s community fund, the ‘Unlock Our Future Fund,’ has provided over £1 million in funding to local climate smart projects. 

About Artemis Technologies

Based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Artemis Technologies is at the forefront of the maritime industry’s push towards decarbonisation. With global manufacturing capabilities and a strategic office in New York, their revolutionary Artemis eFoiler® electric propulsion system, featuring a high-voltage battery energy storage system and ultra-high power density electric drivetrain, sets a new standard in maritime transport. 

Artemis Technologies has a range of 100% electric foiling vessels designed for commercial use.  Including the all-electric Artemis EF-12 CTV, the Artemis EF-12 Pilot boat, the Artemis EF-24 Passenger, a 150-passenger ferry, and a luxury water taxi, the Artemis EF-12 Escape.  

You can learn more about Artemis Technologies by visiting the website. 

About Tidal Transit

Tidal Transit pioneers electric-powered access, transport, and crew transfer services for the offshore energy sector of the UK and Europe. 

From its headquarters on the North Norfolk coast, the company owns and operates a fleet of crew transfer vessels with each generation becoming more energy efficient. Tidal Transit works with partners to design, build, retrofit and run fully electrify crew transport and charging infrastructure. 

The company’s mission is to propel the offshore wind industry into a new net zero era by driving technological innovation in sustainable and decarbonised crew transport in the North Sea and beyond. 

For more information about Tidal Transit and its pioneering work electrifying offshore wind, visit the website. 

About the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult

ORE Catapult is the UK’s leading innovation centre for offshore renewable energy, established in 2013 by the UK Government as part of a network of Catapults set up by Innovate UK in high growth industries.

Independent and trusted, with a unique combination of world-leading test and demonstration facilities, engineering and research expertise, ORE Catapult convenes the sector, delivering applied research, accelerating technology development, reducing risk and cost and enhancing UK-wide economic growth.

ORE Catapult operates in Glasgow, Blyth, Levenmouth, Aberdeen, the Humber, the East of England, the South West and Wales.