Hydrofoil could provide link to Scilly, says firm

A marine technology firm has been showcasing an all-weather electric hydrofoil vessel it says could travel between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Artemis Technologies said the hydrofoil, which uses underwater wings to lift the boat out of the water, could operate in winter when seas are choppy.

John Patterson, from the firm, said said four days of demonstrations in Newlyn and St Mary's were "really exciting" for the region.

They follow a feasibility study run with the Council of the Isles of Scilly to see if the technology "could help make life easier for the locals" with "quick, clean, efficient transit".

If it gets the go-ahead Patterson said a full-size ferry could take 150 passengers at a speed of 32 knots between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in just over an hour.

"The whole joy of the hydrofoil system is it lifts the vessel out," he said, adding it made for a "more comfortable ride".

The feasibility study run with the council and transport firm Connected Places Catapult was aimed at showing "modern technology can provide an alternate solution which may be able to overcome the issues which the Isles of Scilly have in the depths of winter", he added.

Patterson said the firm was looking for an operator and the earliest it could arrive at the islands was "probably 18 months to two years, with fair winds behind us".

"This is all about showing that [with] modern technology there is a solution which can be adopted for cheap, fast transfer between the mainland and the Scilly Isles," he said.

Robert Francis, lead member for transport, economy of tourism at the Council of the Isles of Scilly said: "We are backing the project because we believe it may well be a really good opportunity for us.

"Our community is struggling with unaffordable passenger fares and unaffordable freight costs and this really green 100% electric vessel is going to be the future we believe."

He said it would be "huge" if the boat could run through the winter as "we've got families marooned on the islands".

"We're hoping this is going to operate all year round and it's going to give us some affordable travel because connectivity is everything for us," he said.

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