Norwegian company ZEM AS (Zero Emission Maritime Solutions) has teamed up with the Philippine Association of Coastal and Inland Water Ferries (PACIWF) and IMP Shipyard & Port Services to create the Philippines’ first electric-hybrid ferry prototype. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoA) was signed in Manila during the Norway-Philippines Electric Ferries Conference 2025.
In this collaboration, PACIWF will manage government approvals and coordination, IMP Shipyard will design and construct the ferry, while ZEM AS will provide the electric propulsion system. ZEM AS stated that the initiative aims to introduce clean propulsion technologies into the Philippine maritime industry, showcasing the compatibility of sustainability with operational efficiency.
The electric-hybrid ferry is designed to operate on both battery and diesel power, significantly reducing fuel consumption, noise, and emissions. Philippine maritime authorities support this project as it aligns with the country’s transportation modernization goals, envisioning the prototype as a benchmark for similar implementations across coastal regions and inland waterways.
Construction is projected to commence in 2026, and the prototype will contribute to the Integrated Modernization Program for the Coastal and Inland Water Transport System (CIWTS) as part of the Maritime Industry Development Plan 2028.
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