Cyprus to get its first solar-electric vessels by 2027

The Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI) and Indian company Navalt have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at developing environmentally friendly maritime transport.

The first result of the cooperation will be the launch of Cyprus’s first solar-electric passenger vessels. They are expected to begin operating by April 2027.

The agreement provides for several options for building the vessels. Depending on the specific project, they may be manufactured entirely in India, assembled in Cyprus using Navalt technologies, or produced directly on the island after the necessary technologies and engineering solutions have been transferred.

The parties also plan to cooperate on the development of autonomous maritime vessels for defence purposes.

Indian company Navalt specialises in electric and solar-electric vessels. Its developments include India’s first solar-electric ferry, Aditya, the country’s largest solar-electric ferry, Indra, and the high-speed solar-electric vessel Barracuda.

CMMI said the cooperation should contribute to the development of environmentally friendly shipping in Cyprus and, subsequently, throughout the Mediterranean.