The boat has a speed of 250 km/h flying close to the water surface

American company Sea Cheetah cooperates with French company H3 Dynamics to develop the first hydrogen-electric ground effect (WIGE) vessel, Interesting Engineering reported on October 3.

WIGE ships operate by flying close to the water’s surface, taking advantage of the wing-to-ground effect to create greater lift. They remain airborne without constant contact with the water surface thanks to aerodynamic lift from the wings, fuselage or specially designed components. They also consume less fuel and reduce operating costs compared to traditional ocean or air transport.

Although flying over water, the low altitude allows WIGE ships to operate in the same space as ships. Therefore, they must comply with the same collision avoidance rules as ships.

Sea Cheetah’s WIGE vessel moves only about 3 meters above the water surface at a speed of 250 km/h. The ship’s operating range has not been announced, but it could be up to hundreds of kilometers. With the ability to carry heavy cargo and a longer range than traditional maritime vehicles, the new vehicle is ideal for many applications such as coastal passenger transportation, delivery, and rescue.

H3 Dynamics will build the hydrogen-electric powertrain for Sea Cheetah’s WIGE vessel. This system helps it glide across the ocean with zero emissions, and without the need for constant recharging.

“Our hybrid powertrain enables Sea Cheetah’s WIGE vessels to achieve range and carrying capacity that were previously not feasible with batteries, enabling more applications in different parts of the world,” said Taras Wankewycz, CEO of H3 Dynamics.

According to Serge Markoff, founder and CEO of Sea Cheetah, the lighter cruising powertrain will allow the vessel to better fulfill the mission of zero-emission last-mile deliveries to remote areas. “By combining the two companies’ advanced technology into one vehicle, the Sea Cheetah can now carry three times the payload of competing aircraft and ships, 10 times faster than ships, and more economically. 10 times more fuel than airplanes,” Markoff said.