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Electric AirHull Taxiboat with integrated powertrain for Rotterdam Waterways
Project managers
We are building a fully electric AirHull vessel for Rotterdam Watertaxi — the largest waterway passenger operator in Rotterdam. The vessel integrates Pascal's AirHull technology with our full electric powertrain and energy management system, delivering a zero-emission solution for high-utilisation urban waterway operations.
Introduction
Pascal is delivering a fully electric AirHull vessel for Rotterdam Watertaxi — the largest waterway passenger transport operator in Rotterdam, running a high-frequency taxi service across the city's rivers and harbours. The vessel combines Pascal's AirHull hull technology with our integrated electric powertrain and energy management system, purpose-built for the demanding operational profile of urban waterway transport.
Construction is underway, with the vessel being built by Alumax in Meppel, the Netherlands.
About the project
Rotterdam Watertaxi operates a continuous, high-utilisation service across Rotterdam's waterways — vessels run for six or more hours a day, in all conditions, with minimal downtime tolerance. That operational reality shaped every aspect of the Pascal solution.
The vessel is built around Pascal's AirHull technology, which reduces hydrodynamic resistance by generating an air cushion beneath the hull as the vessel planes. In a fully electric vessel, this directly translates to extended range and reduced energy consumption — critical for an operator that cannot compromise on uptime or frequency of service.
The full Pascal powertrain scope covers propulsion, battery integration, power distribution, consumer management, and vessel controls — all in a single integrated architecture with the same operator interface and automation platform used across Pascal's vessel portfolio. This is the same system being deployed in the standalone powertrain contract Pascal has signed with Rotterdam Watertaxi for a separate catamaran vessel, giving the operator a consistent technology platform across their expanding electric fleet.
What makes this project significant
Rotterdam Watertaxi is the city's dominant waterway operator, with a public commitment to a fully zero-emission fleet by 2030 — a deadline that is increasingly underpinned by tightening municipal and national zero-emission regulation in the Netherlands. Their decision to adopt AirHull technology, and to integrate it with Pascal's own powertrain, is a strong commercial and technical validation.
This is also a comprehensive full-system delivery by Pascal: AirHull combined with the complete electric powertrain, in a high-demand professional operating environment, for an operator that knows exactly what their vessels need to do.
Technical scope
- AirHull technology (air cushion hull system)
- Fully electric propulsion
- Integrated energy management system (EMS)
- Battery system integration
- Power distribution and consumer management
- Vessel controls and operator interface
- Commissioning and project execution
Key facts
Technology AirHull + Powertrain Systems (full integration)
Operator Rotterdam Watertaxi
Builder Alumax, Meppel, Netherlands
Operating environment Urban waterways, Rotterdam
Status Under construction, 2026
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About Rotterdam Watertaxi
Rotterdam Watertaxi is the largest waterway passenger transport operator in Rotterdam, running a high-frequency on-demand taxi service across the city's rivers and harbours with around 50 landing stages throughout the greater Rotterdam area. Operating out of Europe's largest port, they run vessels continuously — often six or more hours a day — with demanding requirements for uptime, reliability, and operational robustness.
The company has publicly committed to a fully zero-emission fleet by 2030. This is not just an internal target: Rotterdam is among the first Dutch cities to implement zero-emission zone regulation, and similar requirements are expected to extend to commercial passenger vessels operating on city waterways as national and EU frameworks tighten through the decade. For Rotterdam Watertaxi, the transition is both a strategic priority and an operational necessity — and they have been pursuing it seriously for years, having already introduced hydrogen-powered and hybrid vessels into their fleet.
When an operator of this profile selects Pascal for their next-generation electric vessel — choosing both AirHull technology and our integrated powertrain — it is a meaningful signal. They are experienced, exacting, and they have alternatives. Their decision to bet on Pascal's integrated platform across two separate vessel contracts makes Rotterdam one of the most important references in Pascal's portfolio.
Contact us if you want to know more
Emiel Mobron
Design lead
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