In the past few years the focus on the necessity of moving the maritime industry towards lower and zero harmful emissions designs has grown a lot. Companies have to act accordingly. One such company is Saronic Ferries. The Greek ferry company recently announced their partnership with C-Job Naval Architects to develop the first fully-electric Ro-Pax ferry in Greece.
The Greek maritime market is a large and important hub for shipping in the Mediterranean area, and is a key element of the Greek economy. Saronic Ferries, the largest ferry operator for the Saronic islands in Greece, went in search of the ideal electric ferry design in order to realize its mission to operate a purely emissions-free fleet by 2040 to all destinations.
George Papaioannides, Partner of Saronic Ferries, says: “We are taking a step towards a cleaner world and we envision our operation in the Saronic Islands to be the inspiration for others to initiate more green fleet renewal projects in Greece.
“We lead the way encouraging potential stakeholders to embrace change and move things forward, both on the vessel design front and on the land-based infrastructure and supply. One can’t come without the other” said Joseph Lefakis, Partner of Saronic Ferries. “C-Job, at its core, is a key player in sustainable ship design, worldwide. Sharing the same values with them, naturally led to this cooperation.”
C-Job first opened its Athens office in 2020, but we have already been researching alternative fuels and energy sources for nearly a decade. These findings and experience have allowed us to bring innovation to our designs. Our mission to drive the maritime industry towards sustainability by dedication and ingenuity makes us the perfect partners to work with Saronic Ferries.
Nikos Papapanagiotou, Director of C-Job Athens, says “We’re proud to have been chosen as partner to Saronic Ferries to develop their zero-emission ferry and support their sustainable ambitions. Thanks to our experience and R&D team, we’re able to show how design choices will affect operations and create the optimal design for each situation.”
C-Job delivered the initial design to Saronic Ferries following an extensive sustainable fuel feasibility study. The results of the study determined that in regards to the desired route, type of vessel, and available infrastructure, a fully electric ferry was the best option for the project. The zero-emission sea-going ferry has a capacity of 800 passengers and will feature a variety of sustainable aspects, including fully electric propulsion. The ferry is envisioned to recharge in the port of Piraeus, though the proper infrastructure to support this, and other electric ferries in the future, still needs to be set up. The design will include state-of-the-art features in energy-saving solutions and top-in-its-class interior design, offering passengers utmost comfort at no expense to the environment. This is where the journey to zero harmful emissions in Greece begins.
The vessel is expected to join Saronic Ferries’ fleet in 2026, sailing between Piraeus and the islands of Aegina and Agistri, provided the infrastructure required in the port of Piraeus is in place.