Hydrofoil ferry sets 160-nautical-mile record in longest sea voyage

Sweden-based Candela has completed the world’s longest electric sea journey by a passenger vessel, with its electric hydrofoiling ferry, the P-12, traveling 160 nautical miles from Gothenburg to Oslo. This milestone demonstrates that electric ferries can operate beyond short, fixed routes and specialized charging infrastructure. The P-12 uses hydrofoil technology to lift its hull above water, drastically reducing drag and cutting energy consumption by about 80% compared to conventional vessels. With a service speed of 25 knots and a range of up to 40 nautical miles on a single charge, it is currently the fastest electric passenger vessel in operation. The voyage, conducted over three days with stops for charging and demonstrations, showcased the ferry’s flexibility in using existing DC fast-charging networks and a portable 360 kW charger to recharge, avoiding the costly, fixed battery-swapping infrastructure typical of traditional electric ferries. This contrasts sharply with Oslo’s fastest conventional electric ferry, which operates a fixed 10-na