First intercontinental journey made using electric boat

The vessel, a Candela C-8 Polestar Edition, completed the voyage from Sotogrande, Spain, to Ceuta, in North Africa, a 24-mile nautical trip in one hour. After recharging, the boat returned to the Spanish mainland in the same day.

Beneath the surface are two hydrofoils - underwater wings - to power the C-8 and lift it above the water, reducing drag and cutting energy consumption by 80% compared with conventional vessels. This milestone enables the long electric range required to cross the Strait of Gibraltar - one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes - for the first time.

This is especially significant, because the Gibraltar Strait is also known for its strong currents and unpredictable seas, posing challenging conditions for smaller vessels and passengers prone to seasickness. This made it the perfect test for Candela’s computer-controlled hydrofoil system, a ‘magic pill’ for motion sickness. Using sensors to detect waves, wind, and current, the system automatically adjusts the hydrofoils up to 100 times per second.

“It functions much like the flight controller of a modern jet fighter, and works very well. We couldn’t feel the waves, while the photo boat was bouncing around quite a bit,” said Gustav Hasselskog, CEO of Candela and pilot during the crossing.

The voyage was undertaken to demonstrate the potential of Candela’s new P-12 electric hydrofoil ferry to deliver clean, cost-efficient transport along the Spanish coast and across the Strait. This key corridor - overseeing over 3.5 million annual crossings - is dominated by large diesel car ferries that serve major hubs. Candela aims to complement these services by introducing fast, sustainable direct routes that expand access for underserved communities.

“There’s a clear need for additional fast, clean, and efficient travel options across the Mediterranean—and for direct lines that wouldn’t be economically viable with larger, conventional vessels,” said Hasselskog. “We can help meet this demand, working alongside existing operators and ferries to boost connectivity and cut emissions—not just across the Strait but also along the coast, for example connecting cities along the Costa del Sol.”

The crossing was done in partnership with Avangreen, the clean energy company behind Ceuta’s largest solar plant and other electrification projects. Together, Candela and Avangreen look to lay down the foundation for sustainable maritime infrastructure.

“Enabling sustainable mobility powered by green energy is the cornerstone of our strategy as a company. We’re looking forward to working with Candela to explore the possibilities for P-12 lines in the region”, said Manuel Gómez, Founder and CEO at Avangreen, who joined on board the C-8.

The Candela P-12 already operates in Stockholm’s public transport system and can carry 30 passengers at high speed - cutting travel times in half while reducing operational costs compared with conventional ships.