By
Alex Smith |
An autonomous, 3D-printed passenger ferry will be deployed in Paris, France, in the summer of 2024 during the Paris Olympics.
A proposal by Holland Shipyards Group, Sequana Développement and Roboat was designated as a winner in a national call for autonomous boat projects initiated by the French inland waterway authority, Voies Navigables de France.
The ferry will have dimensions of 9 by 3.9 metres, making it the largest printed autonomous ferry ever. The vessel will be printed from recycled material and will feature electric propulsion. Mooring and charging will happen automatically.
The location of the ferry’s deployment will be in the vicinity of major sporting events during the Olympics, carrying athletes and visitors over the Seine River.
“The 3D print build method opens up a new exciting chapter in shipbuilding,” said Leendert Hoogendoorn, director of Holland Shipyards Group.