Bangor-Belfast commuter pilot ferry service launch delayed

A ferry service which had planned to begin operating between Bangor and Belfast in 2024, is now set to launch late next year.

The proposed sailings from the two cities are set to utilise a zero carbon emissions ferry powered by a state-of-the-art electric propulsion system developed by Artemis Technologies.

A pilot scheme of the service, which is set to be operated by Condor Ferries, from Bangor Marina to Belfast’s Titanic Quarter was expected to begin operating by 2024.

A spokesperson for Artemis Technologies said production of the first EF-24 Passenger ferry was “well under way” but they were now working towards a date in autumn 2025.

The EF-24 Passenger uses hydrofoil technology to lift the craft out of the water, which means it can travel above the waves, reducing drag and enabling it to go faster.

A spokesperson for Artemis Technologies said the revised date would “allow us time to test and demonstrate our novel technology to the classification authorities”.

“Once that phase concludes we are planning to welcome the first passengers on board for the Bangor-Belfast technology demonstration route in autumn 2025,” the company said.

They also told BBC News NI that they were making great progress on the project and were committed to bring those dates forward wherever they can.

A spokesperson from Condor Ferries said they were “working closely with Artemis Technologies on this project” and “look forward to introducing the service using new technologies”.

In 2020, a consortium led by Artemis and including Bombardier, Belfast Harbour and Northern Ireland’s universities, received a £33m government grant to develop a zero-emissions ferry.

Designs for the new 100% electric 24m vessel were first unveiled in September 2022.

The ferry, which is expected to hold about 150 passengers on board, is powered by a patented electric propulsion system enabling it to fly above the water, which developers say will reduce fuel costs compared to other conventional high-speed diesel ferries.

The ferry will also produce minimal wake, which allows it to operate at high-speed close-to-shore significantly reducing journey time.

The environmentally-friendly project is envisioned to help tackle commuter congestion on the main Bangor-Belfast road, one of the busiest traffic routes in Northern Ireland.

The vessel has been developed by the Artemis Technologies-led Belfast Maritime Consortium, which is a syndicate that’s brought together a range of industry, academia and public bodies.