Artemis Racing… to infinity and beyond

Artemis Technologies, a spin-off from America’s Cup team Artemis Racing, is to establish a new facility in Belfast Harbour in a bid to return commercial shipbuilding to the Northern Ireland city.

The company led by double Olympic gold medalist, Iain Percy OBE, will use its expertise garnished at the highest echelons of world yacht racing to develop new green maritime technologies and build an ‘Autonomous Sailing Vessel’ (ASV).

The ASV will be a zero-emissions 45 metre catamaran that will require no fossil fuels, offer unlimited range, and have the potential to travel at 50 knots, with a cruising speed of 30 knots in any condition.

Artemis Technologies, Chief Executive, Iain Percy OBE, a veteran of four America’s Cup challenges, most recently as Team Manager and Tactician of Artemis Racing says the company has a clear vision:

“We aim to lead in the decarbonization of the maritime industry by building on our America’s Cup heritage and expertise in hydrofoils, wing sails, and control systems to develop and manufacture green-powered commercial vessels, helping to ensure a sustainable maritime future.

“The ASV has a variety of applications including City to City passenger transportation and will be the first in a series of commercial maritime products developed by Artemis Technologies in Belfast using the wind and innovative energy recovery systems.

“Through collaboration, research and innovation we plan to utilize Belfast’s rich maritime history and the region’s world-class expertise in aerospace and composite engineering to create the UK’s most advanced maritime manufacturing facility.

“The Artemis Technologies’ team already consists of experts from the fields of motor sport, aerospace, yacht design, simulation, electronics and aerodynamics. We plan to share our expertise with Northern Ireland and work in collaboration with stakeholders to grow this sector by delivering innovative yet sustainable maritime products.

“Under a new international agreement, issued by the International Maritime Organisation, the global maritime sector has committed to cutting emissions by at least half by 2050.

“We believe, given our expertise and the strength of the skills base here in Northern Ireland, that we can position the region at the forefront of helping deliver these targets, by developing new green innovations to assist in the decarbonisation of maritime.”

The company has received the backing and collaborative support from stakeholders including Belfast City Council, Belfast Harbour, Stena Line, Bombardier, Harland and Wolff, Queen’s University, Ulster University, Belfast Met, NIACE, Creative Composites and Catalyst Inc; and is the lead applicant on a UK Research and Innovation, Strength in Places funding call.

Details: http://www.artemistechnologies.co.uk/

About ASV
• The ocean going ASV is a 45 metre, fully green-powered, catamaran with a top speed of nearly 50 knots and a cruising speed of 3 times the wind speed.
• The ASV project will act as a conduit to link numerous transformative technologies.
• The first vessel will be capable of carrying 50 people.
• It will have an unlimited range, using F1 based energy recovery systems and zero carbon-based fuels.
• Artemis Technologies will use a modified version of its America’s Cup Artemis Racing AC45f 15metre foiling vessel as an initial ‘test mule’.

Source: Artemis Technologies