Swedish electric hydrofoil ferry tested in Helsinki as potential public transport solution

A Swedish-designed electric hydrofoil ferry capable of cutting energy use by 80 percent was demonstrated in Helsinki on Thursday, with plans to introduce similar vessels for public transport routes in the Finnish capital.

The technology, developed by Stockholm-based Candela and presented by its Finnish distributor Telva, allows the ferry to rise above the water at speed, drastically reducing drag. At cruising speed, the vessel “flies” about 50 centimeters above the surface, using underwater foils for lift—similar to the technique employed by flying fish.

“Once the ferry takes flight, speed increases fivefold while relative power consumption remains the same,” said Tapani Hollmén, chair of Telva’s board. The reduced energy demand extends the vessel’s operational range with current battery technology, though it requires higher speeds to achieve lift—a challenge in Helsinki’s speed-restricted waterways.

Candela’s 12-passenger P-12 hydrofoil ferry has operated in Stockholm for two years, halving travel times between the Ekerö suburb and the city center compared to buses, cars, or conventional ferries. The company and Telva are now in discussions to deploy similar ferries in Helsinki, with a proposed route between Herttoniemi and the North Harbour.

Pekka Koponen, a senior smart mobility expert at Helsinki’s innovation agency Forum Virium, called the technology a “major breakthrough” for waterborne public transport. “Electrification in marine transport faces hurdles like battery weight and high power demands,” he said. “Candela’s innovation could reshape how we integrate the archipelago into urban planning—though Helsinki aims to keep its coastal areas as natural and appealing as possible.”