Marine transport has been central to global trade and human progress for centuries. Ships connect continents, enable commerce, and move 90% of the world’s goods. Yet, today the very systems that built global prosperity contribute significantly to environmental damage.
Climate change is no longer an abstract threat – it is measurable, accelerating, and deeply linked to human activity. Among the greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO₂) remains the most significant driver of global warming. When we break down emissions by sector, marine transport contributes roughly 3% of global CO₂ emissions – a seemingly small percentage, but one that becomes enormous when measured in millions of tonnes and growing maritime trade.
So how do we change this trajectory?
The Sun: Our Primary Source of Energy
Every form of clean energy eventually traces back to the sun.
- Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity.
- Solar heat differentials create wind, which can be captured to generate power.
- Heat also drives the water cycle, producing rain, rivers, and hydropower.
- Electricity from renewables can be converted into clean fuels like hydrogen using electrolysis.
In theory, a relatively small area of solar panels – if efficiently deployed – could supply all the energy humanity requires.
But there is one unavoidable challenge:
The sun does not shine 24 hours a day.
This makes energy storage essential, not optional.
Transport Decarbonisation: Some Paths Easier Than Others
When we examine transportation sectors, electrification progresses differently:
- Rail is the easiest – fixed routes, predictable loads, overhead power feasible.
- Road transport is advancing quickly: batteries for cars, swappable packs or fuel cells for trucks, and even charging while driving is emerging.
- Marine transport is more complex – energy requirements are high and charging offshore is difficult.
- Aviation faces similar constraints, with weight and energy density being the core issues.
Marine decarbonisation demands a combination of technological innovation and economic viability.
Technology + Economics: A Turning Point
Two core technologies are driving the shift:
Solar Panels
Photovoltaic technology has existed for over a century, but large-scale manufacturing only took off in the last five decades. The breakthrough came in the past decade when adoption surged—and costs fell dramatically.
Lithium Batteries
Similarly, lithium-based storage has existed for decades, but only recently became affordable, scalable, and energy-dense enough for marine use.
These cost curves changed everything.
A Journey of Experiments, Failures, and Breakthroughs
Our story began in 2009 with SunRIder, an experimental solar boat. It earned a place in the Limca Book of Records as India’s fastest solar-powered vessel at the time.
In 2011, we experimented with retrofitting a fishing boat in Gujarat. The lesson was clear: electrification works—but retrofits don’t suit every application. Purpose-built electric vessels perform dramatically better.
Then, in 2014, came Aditya.
A solar-electric ferry built for Kerala’s State Water Transport Department, Aditya solved both technical challenges and economic ones: no diesel consumption, low operational expenditure, and reliable daily operations. Around nine years of data prove its success, transforming global perception of solar boats.
Scaling the Vision: More Boats, More Possibilities
From that breakthrough, the portfolio expanded:
- Tourism boats like Avalon, Marsel, Destiny, Limo, Indra – even with air conditioning powered by solar.
- Fishing boats with strong economics and social impact, including the Srav model developed with Shell Foundation.
- Government-backed pilot projects such as IDEX electric boats for Navy, Tamil Nadu’s solar-wind hybrid fishing boat.
We are now building:
- A solar-electric RORO ferry – double-ended, catamaran hull, aluminium structure, delivering in 2026.
- Defense patrol boats (FC series) with strong economic advantages.
- High-speed foiling vessels that drastically reduce drag and energy use.
- Autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) for research and monitoring.
- Amphibious electric crafts.
- Green tugs equipped with large thrusters and high-capacity batteries.
- A next-generation green ship with hydrogen fuel cells, wind turbines, megawatt-scale batteries, and high-efficiency propulsion – demonstrating future oceanic performance.
Where We Stand Today
What started as a single prototype is now a global movement.
- 77 boats designed
- A rapidly growing operational fleet
- Multiple vessels under construction across applications
The momentum is real – and accelerating.
Our Mission: Cleaner and Quieter Oceans
The transition to sustainable marine transport is no longer a question of if – but when and how fast. By aligning technology, economics, and ecological responsibility, marine mobility can become not just cleaner, but better.
Our vision is simple yet ambitious:
Our vision is to to become the world’s foremost marine technology company, pioneering the electrification of marine transport.
Because the future of marine transport isn’t just electric –
it’s silent, sustainable, and regenerative.
Sandith Thandasherry 