Advancing Sustainable Marine Transport in the Maldives

Introduction

The Maldives depends on its pristine marine ecosystems to sustain biodiversity and a tourism industry that is central to the nation’s economy. However, reliance on diesel-powered boats for airport transfers and inter-island transport has created significant environmental pressures, including reef damage, shoreline erosion, underwater noise, and fuel pollution. Transitioning to electric boats—both foiling and non-foiling—presents an opportunity to reduce these impacts while maintaining service quality for guests.

The Environmental Challenge

Conventional high-speed diesel boats create three main problems:

• Erosion & reef damage: Large wakes disturb sediments, smother corals, and accelerate coastal erosion.

• Pollution: Fuel leaks, oil residues, and exhaust introduce harmful hydrocarbons into the marine environment.

• Noise disturbance: Engine noise disrupts the behavior of whale sharks, manta rays, and sea turtles.

These impacts threaten the very assets that attract visitors to the Maldives.

Electric Vessel Solutions

Foiling Electric Boats

Foiling boats use hydrofoils to lift their hulls out of the water, reducing drag and enabling highly efficient, low-impact transport. Key benefits include:

• Minimal wake (typically <5 cm): Prevents shoreline and reef erosion.

• High efficiency: Up to 80% less energy use compared to conventional hulls, allowing smaller charging infrastructure.

• Silent operation: Near-noiseless propulsion reduces disruption to marine life.

• Zero emissions: Fully electric systems eliminate diesel-related pollution.

Foiling boats are particularly well-suited to longer, higher-speed routes such as airport-to-resort transfers, where efficiency and comfort are critical.

Non-Foiling Electric Boats

Conventional displacement or planing electric boats offer a more accessible path to electrification. While they generate more wake and consume more energy than foiling designs, they are useful in cases where:

• Lower speeds are acceptable, such as short lagoon crossings.

• Greater passenger or cargo capacity is required.

• Operators prefer simpler technology and charging systems.

Like foiling boats, they still provide zero emissions, quieter operation, and lower maintenance than diesel craft.

Business and Policy Alignment

Switching from diesel boats to electric alternatives can deliver significant cost savings, primarily through reduced fuel use and lower maintenance. Foiling boats maximize these savings by drastically cutting energy requirements, but even non-foiling electric boats eliminate dependency on imported fossil fuels.

At a national level, adopting electric boats supports the Maldives’ goals of achieving Net Zero by 2030 and aligns with international sustainability strategies focused on reducing emissions, protecting marine life, and strengthening energy security through renewables.

Conclusion

Foiling and non-foiling electric boats offer complementary pathways for the Maldives to decarbonize marine transport.

• Foiling boats: best for long, fast routes where efficiency and minimal wake are critical.

• Non-foiling boats: suitable for shorter, lower-speed, or cargo-heavy applications.

Together, they provide a flexible toolkit to protect fragile ecosystems, reduce emissions, and reinforce the Maldives’ global reputation as a sustainable luxury destination.