NEOM Procures Fleet of Electric Hydrofoil Ships

The Candela P-12 will service the planned water network in the mega Saudi Arabian real estate development

The Saudi Arabian regional development of NEOM has procured an initial batch of eight electric hydrofoil ships from Candela to service the planned sustainable water network. Candela P-12 was launched last year and is set to debut in Stockholm’s public transport industry during autumn 2024. It seats between 20 and 30 people depending on configuration.

Long-Range Electric Vessel

• Mega real estate project NEOM to use eight electric hydrofoil ships from Candela
• Candela P-12 was launched last year and is set to debut in Stockholm during autumn 2024
• The ship flies above waves on computer-guided underwater wings
• The P-12 uses 80% less energy allowing it to combine long range and high speed
• The electric Candela C-POD motors, located in pods underwater, are silent and designed to create minimal disturbance for marine wildlife

Flying above the waves on computer-guided underwater wings, the P-12 uses 80% less energy than conventional ships, allowing it to combine long range and high speed.

With a speed of 25 knots and more than two hours of endurance, the Candela P-12 claims to be the fastest and longest-range electric passenger ship to date. Its digital flight control system balances the ship 100 times per second by adjusting the hydrofoils’ angle of attack, keeping it stable even in winds and waves.

As fuel usage rather than the manufacturing phase makes up the bulk of a ships’ environmental impact, energy efficiency is crucial to curb emissions. Since Candela’s foiling vessels use 80% less energy than conventional ships of the same size, a lifecycle analysis performed by the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm concluded that a P-12 will emit 97.5% less CO2 during its lifetime compared to a conventional diesel vessel of the same size.

"The P-12 is designed to create zero-emission water transport systems which have significant improvements over traditional water commuting.”

Gustav Hasselskog, CEO and Founder of Candela

Electric Candela C-POD motors, located in pods underwater, are silent and are designed to create minimal disturbance for marine wildlife. When flying, the P-12 creates only a negligible wake, allowing for quicker journeys where conventional ships are speed-restricted due to their massive and damaging wakes.

"The P-12 is designed to create zero-emission water transport systems which have significant improvements over traditional water commuting,” said Gustav Hasselskog, CEO and founder of Candela. “Unlike legacy systems with large, slow, and energy-inefficient conventional ferries, the Candela P-12 is a smaller and faster unit, allowing much more frequent departures and quicker journeys for passengers. All daily necessities and services will be just a short boat commute away.”