Jacobsen Pilot Service, the pilotage provider for the Port of Long Beach, California, has purchased an Artemis EF-12 Pilot electric hydrofoil pilot boat from clean maritime company Artemis Technologies, the first commercial electric hydrofoil pilot vessel in the US.
The Artemis EF-12 Pilot, scheduled for delivery in late 2027, will bring zero-emission maritime technology to one of the nation’s busiest and most environmentally progressive ports. Jacobsen Pilot Service’s investment will support the Port’s environmental and decarbonisation ambitions while advancing safe, efficient and sustainable pilot boat operations.
The Artemis EF-12 Pilot, powered by Artemis Technologies’ proprietary eFoiler technology, uses advanced hydrofoils to lift the vessel’s hull above the water, reducing drag and energy consumption. The result is a high-performance vessel that delivers improved efficiency and stability, reduces emissions and operating costs, and meets the operational requirements of pilot transfer services. Once operational, the vessel is expected to cover approximately 30% of Jacobsen’s annual operating hours and is projected to save around 40,000 gallons of diesel fuel a year, equivalent to around 400t CO2e.
The vessel is designed to foil during transit, then come into displacement mode for the transfer alongside the ship, where its active control system helps keep the vessel stable. The vessel will carry up to four pilots and two crew, with a service speed of 25 knots. It will be charged by a dedicated DC fast charger being installed at Jacobsen’s dock and will operate alongside Jacobsen’s existing fleet to maintain around-the-clock pilotage service.
David Tyler, Co-Founder and MD North America, Artemis Technologies, said: “This agreement represents an important milestone for Artemis Technologies: the first delivery of the Artemis EF-12 Pilot in the US. The Port of Long Beach’s drive to decarbonise makes this an ideal location to introduce our Artemis eFoiler technology to the US market. Together, we are demonstrating how innovative vessel technology can reduce emissions while maintaining the critical safety, reliability and performance that operators depend upon every day.”
Tom Jacobsen, President and CEO, Jacobsen Pilot Service, added: “This partnership is a significant step for us in establishing a new benchmark for sustainable pilot boat operations in the maritime sector. At JPS, we’ve always put innovation at the forefront of our work in the port.”
Dr Noel Hacegaba, CEO, Port of Long Beach, said: “The Port of Long Beach is proud to utilise California State Transportation Agency funding to support zero-emissions technology such as the Artemis EF-12 Pilot vessel, the nation’s first eFoiler vessel to be commercially deployed. This supports our quest to build the port of the future and our ongoing goal to become the world’s first zero-emissions port, demonstrating that we can clean up as we scale up.”
Jacobsen Pilot Service has been awarded over US$ 3m through the Port of Long Beach’s System-Wide Investment in Freight Transport (SWIFT) programme, funded by the California State Transportation Agency’s Port and Freight Infrastructure Program, to support the purchase of the vessel. The programme supports projects that advance cleaner goods movement and improve air quality at the Port of Long Beach.
Image: Jacobsen Pilot Service has ordered an Artemis EF-12 Pilot vessel for use at the Port of Long Beach (source: Artemis Technologies)
