Saudi Arabia Neom to buy Candela P-12, electric shuttle ships

Billed as a futuristic, high-tech megacity in the desert, one of Neom’s best-known planned features is “The Line,” a linear city comprised of mirrored skyscrapers that plans to run on 100 percent renewable energy.

The developers previously said they expected the first phase of Neom to be completed by 2030, although there have been reports of delays.

The ships contracted by Neom for its waterways are the Candela P-12, considered the world’s first high-speed, long-range electric ship. The shuttles are expected to carry passengers on the Red Sea and Neom’s waterways.

“The P-12 is designed to create zero-emission water transportation systems that have significant improvements over traditional water shuttles,” Gustav Hasselskog, CEO and founder of Candela, said in a statement. “Unlike legacy systems with large, slow and energy-inefficient conventional ferries, the Candela P-12 is a smaller and faster unit, allowing for much more frequent departures and faster journeys for passengers.”

According to the company, the vessel is also the first electric hydrofoil vessel. Hydrofoil refers to underwater fins designed to lift a vessel out of the water. Videos of the Candela P-12 show the craft high enough out of the water that at certain angles it appears to be floating above the water, not on it.

According to Candela, the ship’s underwater wings are guided by computers and allow it to use 80 percent less energy than conventional ships.

A study at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm found that electric hydrofoil ferries emit 97.5% less carbon dioxide over their life cycle than diesel-powered ones. (source link)

The vessel is nearly 40 feet long, can carry 30 passengers in addition to one crew member, and can travel up to 30 knots.

Candela P-12, which was launched last year, is expected to be launched on Stockholm’s public transport system this autumn and delivered to Neom in 2025 and early 2026.