06 Jul 2026

EV Maritime To Integrate Electric Propulsion For Western Australia's First All‑Electric Ferry Fleet

By EVWorld.com AI Editorial Team

Western Australia is taking a major step toward decarbonizing its public transport system with the announcement that Echo Marine Group has selected EV Maritime as electric propulsion systems integrator for five new battery-electric fast ferries. The vessels - 24-metre aluminium catamarans - will form the core of the METRONET Swan River Ferry Service Expansion, the largest growth initiative in Perth's ferry network history.

The A$66 million project, awarded by the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (PTA), marks the state's first deployment of fully electric public transport ferries. Naval architecture is being led by One2three Naval Architects, while EV Maritime will provide electrical systems integration, power conversion panels, vessel management and power management systems, and mechanical engineering support.

For EV Maritime, the contract represents both a validation of its standardized technology platform and a strategic evolution. The company's first two EVM200 electric ferries - carbon-fiber vessels built for Auckland Transport - set benchmarks for speed, passenger capacity, and fully electric performance. Those vessels were designed entirely by EV Maritime. In contrast, the Perth ferries are a fully custom design, requiring EV Maritime to step back from hull design and focus exclusively on engineering and systems integration.

Founder and CEO Michael Eaglen emphasized the significance of the project, noting that PTA's commitment to transport decarbonization is "immensely significant, both locally and internationally." He added that Echo Marine Group's trust in EV Maritime's integration package "underpins the capability of these vessels."

A Missing Piece: Where Will The Power Come From?

One notable omission in the announcement is any reference to the source of electric power for the new fleet. The press release details EV Maritime's onboard systems - electrical engineering, power conversion panels, integrated vessel management and power management systems - but does not address shoreside charging infrastructure, grid upgrades, or renewable energy sourcing. For a project framed as a major decarbonization milestone, the absence of information about how the ferries will be charged leaves open important questions about lifecycle emissions, operational reliability, and the broader energy strategy behind Western Australia's electrified transport ambitions.

The Swan River's operational constraints - particularly low air draft requirements - necessitated a bespoke hull form. Yet EV Maritime's standardized driveline remains at the heart of the propulsion system. Chairman Damian Camp highlighted this hybrid approach, saying that pairing custom naval architecture with a proven driveline "gives us far more reach and impact" while maintaining high confidence in vessel performance.

EV Maritime's next-generation electric driveline and automation platform promises improvements in weight, space efficiency, installation simplicity, and cost. Chief Electrical Engineer Shawn Balding described the new platform as "a significant step up," reducing barriers to electrification for operators and shipyards worldwide.

Echo Marine Group Project Manager Anthony Livanos underscored the importance of EV Maritime's experience, citing the company's "extensive understanding of the challenges of designing and building high-performance electric vessels" as essential to de-risking the project.

Each vessel will carry 100 passengers, operate at speeds up to 25 knots, and feature a low-wake hull optimized for the Swan River environment. Construction will support approximately 130 local jobs, including apprenticeships and training opportunities.

With projects underway in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, EV Maritime continues to expand its role as a global leader in electric vessel integration. Western Australia's first electric ferry fleet is poised to become another milestone in the accelerating transition toward zero-emission maritime transport.

Original Source

Views: 373