13 Nov 2025
VULKAN UK Launches the First Fully Electric Sightseeing Vessel on the Thames
We are pleased to announce that VULKAN UK in collaboration with the VULKAN Hybrid and Electric Solutions team has completed its first project in the field of alternative propulsion systems for the marine sector. Commissioned by Woods Tours, designed by One2Three Naval Architects, and built at the Pendennis Shipyard in Cornwall, the 39-meter-long Silver Raven is the first fully electric sightseeing vessel in Great Britain. This project marks an important milestone for VULKAN on the path to entering the market for hybrid and electric propulsion systems in the United Kingdom.
VULKAN UK provided the electrical design expertise and performance profiles that will enable the Silver Raven to enter service in autumn 2025. The vessel will carry up to 250 passengers on London’s central waterways and demonstrate that large-scale passenger operations can be carried out efficiently and sustainably with electric propulsion.
At the center of the vessel is a battery system specified by VULKAN UK: the EST Floattech Octopus Series, chosen for its durability, efficiency, and ability to power multiple daily journeys. This innovative system is designed for rapid charging between tours.
Due to its innovative design, the Silver Raven vessel is part of the UK's Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC4), funded by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered by Innovate UK. CMDC4 is part of the Department’s UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) program, a £206m initiative focused on developing the technology necessary to decarbonize the UK domestic maritime sector.
Statement for the Future of Clean Maritime Transport in Great Britain
Adrian Birkin, Managing Director of VULKAN UK, said: “The Silver Raven is more than a boat – it is a statement of intent about the future of clean maritime transport in Britain. Our team is proud to have designed the power solution that will keep the vessel running smoothly and silently in one of the busiest stretches of water in the world. This project proves that advanced engineering developed here in the UK can set new standards internationally.”
Included VULKAN Products and Services
The Silver Raven is one of the hybrid and electric projects that VULKAN UK has been working on, in collaboration with Woods’ Silver Fleet and Pendennis Shipyard. VULKAN UK supplied the following products and services for the Silver Raven:
- Electric motors
- Couplings
- Gensets
- Electric design
- Electrical components
- Control systems
- Switchboards
- Batteries
- System integration
This important reference project by VULKAN UK was realized thanks to excellent teamwork and with the support of the VULKAN Hybrid and Electric Solutions team.
About Woods Tours
Woods Tours is launching the official Tower of London River Tour, which is operated aboard their custom-built vessel, the Silver Raven, complementing the luxury private charters offered by parent company Woods' Silver Fleet.
The Tower of London River Tour departs from and returns to Tower Bridge Quay, a privately owned pier just a short walk from the Tower of London and directly next to Tower Bridge.