Electric hydrofoiling passenger ferries will be introduced to Western Australia as New Zealand marine technology company Vessev expands into the Australian market. Working with local expert Enautic Group, Vessev is set to introduce its ‘flying’ vessels to Perth.
According to Vessev, there are currently only three commercially certified electric hydrofoiling vessels in operation globally – two of which are Vessev VS–9s, which together have logged close to 10,000 nautical miles.
Several Vessev VS–9 vessels have been reserved for the Perth launch, and will operate premium tourism experiences including wine cruises, twilight sailings and private charters. The plan is to expand to commuter routes service in the future.
Vessev was founded in 2018 by Max Olson and Eric Laakmann, a former engineering programme leader at Apple. Last year their flying ferries made their debut as the first certified electric hydrofoiling vessel to enter the fleet of a commercial operator (as opposed to publicly-owned municipal transport authority).
In December 2025, Vessev made headlines following its launch of a fully electric hydrofoiling day boat, the VS-9 Skye.
Hydrofoiling electric tourist boats in New Zealand
Two VS-9s are operated by New Zealand’s largest ferry transport and tourism operator, Fullers360. They carry up to ten passengers around Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour.
Hydrofoiling is a technology that uses foils – basically underwater airplane wings – that lift the boat out of the water, eliminating the water resistance of the hull. That means much less energy is required to move the boat, and there is almost no wake.
According to Vessev, energy usage can be reduced by as much as 85 per cent, aiding electric boat range – up to 50 nautical miles (92 km / 57 mi) in the case of the VS-9. The vessels create no wake – another attraction for operators particularly for those in restricted and protected cruising grounds. In Auckland, the flying ferry can operate in sensitive waters without disturbing the ecosystem. In Perth, the main benefit is that the VS-9 can go faster in restricted areas.
Cruise through restricted no-wake zones
The Swan River in Perth, Western Australia, flows through the city. While other large commercial ferries are typically limited to speeds of five to eight knots along much of the Swan, the wake-free VS–9 can cruise at 25 knots.
Enautic, the Perth-based Australian company working with Vessev, started out as Electri.nautic in 2019, working with the University of Western Australia to develop the world’s first hydrofoiling jetski, the WaveFlyer.
Vessev opened its first international office in the US in 2025 to meet increasing demand for its hydrofoiling technology.
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