UK’S First All-Electric Sightseeing Vessel on the Thames, Powered by Vulkan UK

Vulkan UK has contributed to a groundbreaking project to bring zero-emission maritime operations to the River Thames.

The company has provided the electrical design expertise and power profiles that enables the Silver Raven, the UK’s first fully electric sightseeing vessel, to begin operation in autumn 2025.

Commissioned by Woods Tours, designed by One2Three Naval Architects, and built at Pendennis Shipyard in Cornwall, the 39-metre Silver Raven will carry up to 250 passengers per voyage. The vessel will navigate London’s central waterways, demonstrating that large-scale passenger operations can be carried out efficiently and sustainably with electric propulsion.

At the centre of the vessel is a battery system specified by VULKAN UK: the EST Floattech Octopus Series, chosen for its durability, efficiency, and ability to power multiple daily journeys. This innovative system is designed for rapid charging between tours.

Due to its innovative design, the Silver Raven vessel is part of the UK's Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC4), funded by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered by Innovate UK. CMDC4 is part of the Department’s UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, a £206m initiative focused on developing the technology necessary to decarbonise the UK domestic maritime sector.

Adrian Birkin, Managing Director of VULKAN UK, said:

“The Silver Raven is more than a boat – it is a statement of intent about the future of clean maritime transport in Britain. Our team is proud to have designed the power solution that will keep the vessel running smoothly and silently in one of the busiest stretches of water in the world. This project proves that advanced engineering developed here in the UK can set new standards internationally.”