Hybrid tourist shuttle delivered to French operator

A new hybrid-powered shuttle ferry has been handed over to Union des Bateliers Arcachonnais (UBA), a tour operator based in the seaside resort town of Arcachon on the southwestern coast of France.

Designed by French naval architecture firm Mer et Design, Mataroa has recyclable aluminium construction, an LOA of 19.89 metres, a beam of 4.7 metres, and seating for up to 98 passengers. The hybrid propulsion arrangement features two Cummins QSL9 335kW main engines and lithium iron phosphate batteries that drive two 80kW electric motors to enable the vessel to reach a service speed of 6.5 knots for up to three hours.

The electronics suite includes a radar and displays from Simrad.

Mataroa is a near-identical sister of Askea, which was delivered to UBA in 2022.