Lloyd’s Register partners with Echo Marine Group to deliver electric ferry fleet

Lloyd’s Register has signed a contract with Echo Marine Group to provide classification and technical assurance services for the design and construction of five battery-electric passenger ferries, marking Western Australia’s first fully electric ferry fleet.

The project forms part of the Perth Transport Authority’s METRONET Swan River Ferry Service Expansion programme and sets a new benchmark for zero-emission public transport vessel design in Australia.

The ferries will operate on Perth’s Swan River, with the first vessel scheduled to enter service in 2027.

As one of the earliest fully electric ferry fleets in the country, the project presents a range of technical and regulatory considerations specific to high-voltage battery integration, evolving certification standards and the safe deployment of electric propulsion systems in a public transport context.

On-site, LR’s local surveyor team is working alongside Echo Marine throughout construction, providing direct oversight of electric propulsion system installation, high-voltage cabling and associated safety infrastructure.

Asif Ghauri, Account Manager for Marine Australasia at LR, highlighted the value of the established relationship with Echo Marine in navigating the technical complexity of a pioneering project, combining local knowledge with global expertise.

Anthony Livanos, Project Manager at Echo Marine Group, credited the collaboration with reducing regulatory uncertainty and safeguarding passenger safety, vessel efficiency and delivery timelines.

The programme is expected to serve as a scalable model for future low-emission ferry development across Australia and New Zealand as governments in the region accelerate their decarbonisation agendas.

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