Great Barrier Island might soon be closer to Auckland than ever if Ocean Flyer’s plans come to fruition. A critical flight test expected in the coming months will determine the next financial steps for the company’s $700 million plan to introduce electric seagliders to New Zealand.
Ocean Flyer and SO Capital chief executive Shah Aslam confirmed that the first crewed flight of Regent’s full-scale prototype, expected in two to three months, would trigger an additional deposit. This milestone will allow the company to begin detailed planning for training, maintenance, and business operations to bring the seagliders to New Zealand.
With services potentially mirroring the ease and frequency of a bus schedule, the transport company promises to deliver a rapid commute from Auckland to The Barrier in just 25 to 30 minutes, at a cost of under $100.
“Ocean Flyer is considering Great Barrier Island as a route. We believe it will open up opportunities for the Islanders including but not limited to key pent up frustration for school kids and families for life events such as medical appointments,” Arsel Aslam from Ocean Flyer said.
Seagliders operate by gliding above the water’s surface using the wing-in-ground effect, similar to the aerodynamics used in America’s Cup racing boats. This reduces drag and significantly improves efficiency.
The company claims these seagliders are environmentally friendly and powered entirely by electricity, which cuts running costs compared to fossil fuel-based options. The Ocean Flyer seagliders are fully electric and offer one-eighth the running costs of fossil fuel-based transport options, according to Aslam.
The seagliders can reach speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour and are designed to carry 12 passengers in the initial Viceroy models, with larger 100-seat Monarch models also planned. Regent, the United States manufacturer, is supplying 15 of the 12-seater and 10 of the 100-seater seagliders to Ocean Flyer. Regent has also received an Approval in Principle from regulatory body Bureau Veritas.
Ocean Flyer recently secured $145 million in funding with Monte, a United Kingdom-based asset manager focusing on decarbonized vessels. This financing covers the initial acquisition phase of the $700 million agreement.
Aslam emphasized the economic potential for The Barrier, noting that it can generate an increase in economic activity for businesses and the tourism industry.
The seagliders are equipped with maritime avionics systems embedded into the crew deck. Sensors and radars will monitor surrounding activity to safely maneuver around other vessels and marine life. The limited amount of the vessel actually in the water means they will be less disruptive to the marine environment.
While public demonstrations have so far been limited to graphic renders and small-scale prototypes, the upcoming crewed flight test of the full-scale Viceroy prototype marks a shift toward operational reality. With regulatory approval pending from bodies like Maritime New Zealand, Ocean Flyer aims to commence commercial operations in New Zealand by 2026.
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Back to the future, or the future back to the past. Who remembers Freddy Ladd’s sea planes to the Barrier, landing on the sea and beach at Mulberry Grove?
So exciting, however the small unit’s only “fly” 2m above the ocean so crossing the colville channel will be swell dependant which will affect the commercial viability!???
What could possibly go wrong? I shudder to think. I remember Peter Blake saying that the Colville channel was one of the “most challenging pieces of water in the world”.
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