Wight Shipyard building new Thames Clippers

Wight Shipyard is constructing London’s new Thames Clippers boats which will be the UK’s first hybrid high-speed passenger ferries.

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers has commissioned the Isle of Wight boatbuilder to create the UK’s first hybrid high speed passenger ferries which will launch in autumn 2022 and spring 2023.

The two new vessels are based on a hybrid design that will allow the new vessels to operate solely on battery power and recharge while using bio-fuelled power.

Sean Collins, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ co-founder and CEO, said:

“After the challenges of the last two years that Covid has set upon businesses, in particular in the transport sector, I’m extremely excited to be increasing our capacity to meet the demands of our customers and partners.

“This development in technology has enabled us to take the first major steps to meet our future environmental vision.

“For over 20 years we have been at the forefront of innovation for the river marine sector. We are committed to supporting the sustainable growth, infrastructure and economic development on and around the river to endorse the river’s importance to London as a form of transport.

“As a business, we are continuing to embrace the emerging technological advances that will see us continue to develop our fleet and infrastructure, thereby supporting a sustainable future in our industry.”

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers has committed to achieving net zero on all new builds by 2025 and for its wider fleet, infrastructure and environmental footprint by 2040

Collins said: “We’re looking ahead with this hybrid design, ensuring easy conversion to green hydrogen or another renewable energy source – something we’re also focusing heavily on with the new projects we’re undertaking thanks to recent DfT funding.

“It is the next step in our strategy to net zero and, ultimately, tailpipe zero.”