eFoiler-Pilot Feasibility Study

The key objective of this feasibility study is to ascertain if a 100% electric foiling Pilot Vessel, the 'eFoiler-Pilot', is a technical, and economically, viable solution for pilotage.

As an island nation, 95% of UK trade by volume is moved by sea. Every person in the country will consume goods on a daily basis that have been provided to the UK by ship. Almost every ship entering or leaving a port, is required under UK law to engage an Authorised Pilot, who boards the vessel at sea, and takes conduct of the safe navigation of that vessel.

Maritime Pilots are key to keeping these essential ships safely transiting in and out of UK ports and waterways ensuring the safe, timely and efficient movement of essential trade. Pilotage is also critical in protecting the national infrastructure and environment from damage or pollution, by eliminating accidents from untrained operators.

Maritime Pilots are expert senior mariners who typically hold authorisations to work in a single port or area. Within their coastal area, they specialise in expert knowledge of the weather, tides, water depths, local conditions and traffic in order to navigate ships safely, timely and efficiently, in and out of constrained waterways and ports. In the UK alone, there are over 650 authorised pilots.

Today, over 3,200 Pilot Vessels operate globally (around 960 registered in UK and EU), emitting 820,000 tonnes CO2e each year _\[Inventory of Air Emissions, LA Port, 2019\]._ Pilot Vessels account for 2% of all the waterborne emissions of large harbour operations such as Los Angeles. As the need for pilot vessels is expected to follow the anticipated growth of 6.4% of the world merchant fleet over the next 5 years, it is imperative that a disruptive solution to decarbonise Pilot Vessel operations is brought to market quickly.

This project will ascertain the feasibility of the Artemis-eFoiler electric propulsion system as a solution to decarbonise Pilot vessel operations.

**Key Objectives**

* To undertake data collection and analysis of typical Pilot vessel duty cycles
* Develop a Digital Twin of an optimised Artemis-eFoiler electric propulsion system and vessel platform (eFoiler-Pilot);
* Develop a full mission simulation of the eFoiler-Pilot undertaking Pilot transfer operations in the Artemis Technologies simulator;
* Investigate the potential reduction of lifecycle emissions of the solution and any barriers to adoption; and
* Create a regulatory roadmap for the eFoiler-Pilot and plan for large-scale demonstration of the solution.