Australia's First
Electric Hydrofoil
Water Metro
Water Roads delivers zero-emission urban transit as a service — launched in Sydney, designed for 50+ global cities.
Sydney's waterways carry
7% of harbour commuters.
They could carry far more.
Sydney's road congestion costs the economy an estimated $6.9 billion annually — projected to reach $12.6 billion by 2030. Over 100,000 residents in waterfront communities face 45–90 minute road journeys that could be served in 18 minutes by water.
The existing fleet of approximately 40 diesel-powered vessels contributes to urban air pollution through CO₂, NOx, SOx, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Sydney's waterways run parallel to the city's most congested road corridors — natural transport arteries requiring no construction, no tunnelling, and no property acquisition.
"Private involvement is expected to increase as government transport funding competes with healthcare and education."
Source: BITRE; TfNSW; Water Roads White Paper WR-WP-003 (2026)
Transport as a Service.
Zero capital for the city.
Water Roads is a platform company that operates vessels as proof-of-concept — analogous to an AirBnB model for urban transit. It delivers vessels, route optimisation, ticketing, crew, maintenance, and carbon reporting under one contract.
Water Roads is complementary, not competitive to Sydney Ferries — serving corridors with no existing service, activating underutilised waterway infrastructure, and requiring zero government capital. One contract. Deployable in months, not years.
Flying above the water.
86% less energy.
Water Roads vessels use hydrofoil technology to lift above the water surface at speed, eliminating hull drag and reducing energy consumption by up to 85%. Over a 30-year operational lifetime, the carbon footprint is 97.5% lower than equivalent diesel vessels.
"The combination of hydrofoils and electric propulsion is the main factor in lowering emissions. This type of vessel has a clear advantage."
| Metric | Diesel Fleet | WR Electric Hydrofoil |
|---|---|---|
| CO₂ Emissions | High | Zero at point of use |
| Energy per Pax-km | 36 kWh | 5 kWh (−86%) |
| PM2.5 / NOx / SOx | Significant | Zero |
| Wake Wash | Substantial | Near zero (foilborne) |
| Speed | Conventional | 57% faster |
| 30-Year Carbon Footprint | Baseline | 97.5% lower (KTH) |
Rhodes to Barangaroo.
18 minutes. Every 6 minutes.
The initial service will connect Wentworth Point / Rhodes to Barangaroo (Nawi Cove) operating at metro-level frequency with a target of 95% on-time reliability and 3,000+ daily passengers. The first vessel, built by Vessev (New Zealand), arrives in Sydney in May 2026.
The pilot uses existing TfNSW wharf infrastructure — no new public capital is required. Shore-based charging is provided by Deep Power, an Australian-designed floating battery platform that converts existing wharves into electric-enabled e-Wharves without requiring grid upgrades.
Australia hosts COP31 in partnership with Pacific Island Nations. A working electric hydrofoil service on Sydney Harbour would demonstrate Australian climate leadership to a global audience — operational, visible, and aligned with the Pacific partnership theme.
Source: NSW Auditor-General; Infrastructure Australia; Water Roads WR-WP-003 (2026)
Five corridors. Journey time savings
of 54–68%.
Each corridor serves communities currently underserved by existing public transport, with road journey times that could be reduced by more than half.
| Route | By Road | By Water | Time Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barangaroo → Rhodes | 45 min | 15 min | 67% |
| Middle Harbour / Seaforth | 50 min | 18 min | 64% |
| Eastern Suburbs | 40 min | 13 min | 68% |
| Northern (Avalon) | 80 min | 45 min | 54% |
| Southern (Sans Souci) | 50 min | 22 min | 56% |
Parramatta–CBD full corridor: 27 min via water vs 55 min road vs 86 min existing service. Network hourly capacity (5 routes): 1,800 passengers bidirectional.
23,147 jobs. $112.5B economic activity.
Over 25 years.
NSW Manufacturing
Water Roads is committed to onshoring manufacturing capability over three years — from imported vessels to sovereign Australian manufacturing. Three NSW sites are identified for staged deployment.
A platform company.
Not a transport operator.
Water Roads is structured as a platform company that operates vessels as proof-of-concept — analogous to an AirBnB model for transport. Sydney is the launch market. The technology platform and operating model is designed for deployment across 50+ global cities by 2030.
The staged capital structure is designed to be reversible — vessels are redeployable assets, not stranded infrastructure. This is a fundamentally different risk profile from traditional transport investment.
Request a briefing pack
or arrange a meeting.
Water Roads is actively engaging with partners, media, and early-stage investors. If you'd like a detailed briefing pack, a meeting with the team, or further information about the Sydney pilot, please reach out directly.
