Minutes:
The Chairperson welcomed representatives of Artemis Technologies to the meeting: Mr. I. Percy, CEO; and Ms. K. Thompson SIPF Programme Director, Belfast Maritime Consortium.
Mr. Percy provided a presentation on the Strength in Places-funded Belfast Maritime Consortium programme and the development of Artemis eFoiler??.
He provided an overview of the company’s inception to lead in the decarbonisation of the maritime industry and to provide design and engineering services to high - performance and commercial clients, as well as developing unique products, like the world’s most advanced maritime simulators.
He explained the vision for the decarbonisation of Maritime Transport and illustrated how the solution of using Artemis eFoiler?? vessels would work.
The Committee was reminded that the Belfast Maritime Consortium (BMC) led by Artemis Technologies had been awarded £33 million in 2020 from the UK Research and Innovation flagship Strength in Places (SIP) Fund.
He highlighted that BMC was using the SIP Fund to launch the world’s most advanced high-speed zero-emission passenger ferry and develop the technical and operational requirements for a maritime transport system of the future. The project costs were £53million (of which £33million was in grant funding) with a timeframe from September 2020 – 31 January 2024.
He advised that the key objectives were to:
· Develop the technical and operational requirements for a maritime transport system of the future;
· Research into marine composite materials, integration of sensors, anti-fouling, collision avoidance systems, cyber security and safety;
· Create an education programme and route to high value jobs;
· Act as a catalyst for collaboration between NI’s marine, aerospace and automotive clusters; and
· Demonstrate the technologies and innovations created during the project though the operation of passenger ferry pilot scheme.
He reported that the consortium members currently included: Artemis Technologies, Spirit Aerosystems, Creative Composites, Condor Ferries, Belfast City Council, Ards and North Down Borough Council, Power NI, Belfast Harbour, Queen’s University, Ulster University, Belfast Met, Invest NI, Catalyst and NI Advanced Composites and Engineering (NIACE).
He explained that, as part of the project, Artemis Technologies had also developed and launched globally a 100% electric high-speed foiling workboat prototype from the company’s research and manufacturing facility in Belfast and provided details of how the vessel worked.
He described the project of a zero emission foiling ferry service between Belfast and Bangor and reported that this was expected to be operational in 2024.
He highlighted that the Council and Ards and North Down Borough Council had confirmed mutual interest in exploring the commercial viability of a zero emission foiling ferry service to:
· develop a competitive ferry transportation service that offers commuter choice and congestion relief;
· that is integrated into local and regional transportation plans and services; and
· acts as a catalyst for economic development and tourism.
Mr. Percy described the benefits of using sustainable and public transport, together with a comparison matrix of transport methods, highlighting the advantages of the eFoiler Ferry and its large capacity for passengers and bicycles, together with lower fuel costs. He provided examples of where ferry services had been used around the world and the additional benefits ferry terminals brought to the social and economics of a city.
He pointed out that the project included working in partnership with Belfast City Council, Maritime UK and other partners to develop a programme of outreach initiatives to showcase the maritime sector, encourage participation in the sector from young people across the city and provide an educational pathway to rewarding careers.
He confirmed that the Council could further support the project by engaging with the Proposed Solution; Include zero-emission water borne transportation in Net-Zero Carbon Roadmap and Lobby the Department for Infrastructure for necessary funding and legal changes. He also invited the Committee to a site visit to Artemis Technologies.
During Members Questions, the representative’s answered a range of questions in relation to the manufacturing of the vessels, timescales of the projects, infrastructure maintenance, pontoon requirements and the potential for other ferry routes.
He provided further detail on the collaboration between Artemis and Belfast Met’s apprenticeship programme and advised that it was central to its plans to build a pipeline of skills to support the development of this new class of zero emission craft.
After discussion, the Chairperson thanked the representatives for their attendance and they retired from the meeting.
The Committee noted the information which had been provided and agreed that a site visit to Artemis Technologies be arranged in the future.