Sea-skimming “flying ferries” could slash journey times for cross-Channel sailings, a ferry operator has claimed. Brittany Ferries announced it is collaborating with US-based start-up Regent Craft on developing zero-emission Seagliders. The firm said the battery-powered craft, which it described as part-ship, part-plane, could be launched by 2028 and may reduce sailing times between Portsmouth and France from five hours by conventional ferry to 40 minutes. Seagliders are being developed using technology known as wing-in-ground effect, which would involve riding on a cushion of air trapped between a wing and the surface, similar to how a hovercraft runs. The top speed would be 180mph and “minimal power” would be needed to move hundreds of passengers, according to Brittany Ferries. Read more about the future of transport: The company acknowledged its plan for “flying ferries” will face “technical and regulatory challenges”, but insisted that “shouldn’t be a barrier to developing a promising, sustaining technology”. It is advising Regent Craft on practical issues involved in running fast craft due to its experience with the high-speed catamaran Normandie Express. Brittany Ferries’ ports and operations director Frédéric Pouget said: “We are particularly pleased to contribute now because it means we can bring real-world challenges […]
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