Second electric fast ferry launched for Auckland Transport

EV Maritime has launched the second of its two 24-metre, 200-passenger carbon-fibre battery-electric fast ferries being built for Auckland Transport.

The vessel was launched on Tuesday morning at McMullen & Wing’s shipyard on Auckland’s Tāmaki River, with EV Maritime saying the event went ahead despite wet weather conditions.

Code-named AT2 until its official naming, the vessel joins sister ship AT1, which was launched last year.

Both ferries are intended to deliver clean, quiet and sustainable public transport services on the Auckland–Half Moon Bay route.

The route spans 8.5 nautical miles and has a scheduled sailing time of 35 minutes.

EV Maritime says the ferry will recharge at the dock using the CharIN e.V. Megawatt Charging System (MCS), allowing the vessel to recharge in around 10 minutes while passengers are boarding and disembarking.

According to AT, the electric ferries are expected to start docking at the Downtown Ferry Terminal from late 2026 once charging infrastructure and commissioning are ready.