New Zealand’s innovative and ground breaking marine products.
In New Zealand, dedication to environmental protection is deeply ingrained in the national identity. The integration of innovation and environmental diligence is also built into New Zealand’s companies and brands, particularly in the marine industry, where environmental conservation plays a pivotal role. Marine brands like ZeroJet, with their all-electric propulsion systems, and Propspeed, with their biocide-free foul-release coatings, stand as global leaders in placing sustainability at the forefront of their business.
ZeroJet stands as a prime example of New Zealand brands’ commitment to sustainable practices by placing environmental consciousness at the centre of all its business decisions and practices. They design and manufacture electric jet propulsion systems for tenders and RIBs that are powerful, quiet and sustainable. The company’s world-leading plug-and-play system is fast to install, enabling boatbuilders to seamlessly transition to electric power. The ZeroJet team is highly committed to leading the charge towards environmentally conscious boating, simplifying the switch for boatbuilders and helping them tap into the growing consumer demand for more sustainable boating. With an ambitious vision, the ZeroJet leadership team aspires to eliminate the need for combustion engines on the water, revolutionizing the marine industry with their innovative, planet-friendly solutions.
EV Maritime takes a bold and innovative approach to promoting sustainable solutions for pressing challenges. Headquartered in Auckland, EV Maritime is a clean-tech design, engineering, and technology company on a mission to decarbonize the harbour cities of the world. Central to this goal is the development and delivery of electric ferries, supporting boat builders around the world in their transition to high-quality electric boat construction. The first two vessels of EV Maritime’s EVM200 design will be launched in 2024. The carbon-fiber catamaran vessels are designed to bring a new level of efficiency to passenger ferry operations, enabling electrification to be applied to longer, faster, and more frequent ferry services.
In addition to its two-decade track record in protecting the performance of running gear, underwater metals, and niche areas on vessels worldwide, Propspeed’s biocide-free foul-release coatings deliver unique benefits to boaters and vessel operators that support the important mission of marine preservation. Instead of killing marine growth with toxins and further contributing to negative environmental impacts, the Propspeed system creates a hydrophobic surface that insulates the coated area and prevents marine growth from attaching to all coated underwater assets. Any minimal growth that does form is washed away as soon as the propeller spins and water movement occurs over the coating. This reduces the spread of invasive species from location to location, delivers sustained vessel performance and reduced fuel burn, resulting in less emissions released over the lifetime use of a vessel.
In 2021, French company Icard Maritime applied Propspeed to its hybrid-powered passenger boat Helios. The vessel has a hybrid-diesel and electric propulsion to allow it to operate in the natural park of Calanques in Marseille, a protected site. Following the application of Propspeed, Hélios experienced an increase in speed and an impressive reduction in fuel consumption by over 15%.
“The protection and preservation of our planet’s rivers, lakes and oceans is central to New Zealand’s marine industry, this environment is our ‘home’,” said Rod McDonald, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise’s Canadian Business Development Manager for Marine.
The New Zealand marine sector is highly regarded in the global industry, renowned for producing high-quality products across various marine categories. Characterized by a steadfast dedication to innovation and advanced technology, New Zealand will continue to produce world-leading marine products and services across all sectors, reinforcing its position as a key player in the global maritime landscape.
