ST Engineering's AirFish water-skimming craft set to operate on Singapore-Batam ferry route

SINGAPORE: ST Engineering on Tuesday (Feb 3) announced a deal with a regional ferry operator that will see its AirFish Voyager wing-in-ground craft, which skims across the water's surface, plying a ferry route between Singapore and Batam.

The AirFish uses aerodynamic forces and air pressure to glide a few metres above the water, and is able to fly at thrice the speed of existing marine craft, according to information on ST Engineering's site.

It can carry up to 10 people, including crew, and does not require landing or take-off infrastructure. It is currently being assembled in Singapore.

Under the agreement between ST Engineering AirX - a joint venture of ST Engineering's commercial aerospace business - and BatamFast, the regional ferry operator will lease an AirFish and operate it on a ferry route between Singapore and the Indonesian island.

Operations are expected to commence in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals, said ST Engineering.

ST Engineering AirX and BatamFast will also explore opportunities to expand operations to new destinations across Southeast Asia, it added.

Speaking to members of the media at the unveiling of the agreement at the Singapore Airshow on Tuesday, BatamFast general manager Chua Choon Leng said that operational details of the AirFish ferry service, such as its frequency and ticket prices, had not yet been finalised.

"Our focus is on the route and then the risk assessment," Mr Chua said.

"Once all is in place and approval is received, we probably will plan the operation," he said, adding that the prices of tickets would depend on the service's operational and capital expenses.

They will, however, "certainly" cost more than current ferry tickets because the smaller capacity of the AirFish compared to conventional ferries means that it will operate with higher unit costs, he said.

Mr Chua said he expects AirFish trips between Singapore and Batam to take about 25 minutes. Ferries currently take about 45 minutes to travel between them.

Time savings will be limited on the route due to its short length and speed restrictions, with reductions in travel times being larger on longer routes, he said.

Mr Chua added that BatamFast is also looking at operating AirFish ferry services to other destinations, such as Bintan and Tioman Island.

ST Engineering also announced on Tuesday another agreement with Wings Over Water Ferries (WOW) that will bring four AirFish craft to India for commercial use from late 2026. 

The commencement of operations is subject to route approvals by the local authorities, ST Engineering said.

"WOW's initial deployment strategy will focus on high-demand coastal states and sectors with strong tourism, commuter and regional connectivity potential," said ST Engineering.

ST Engineering AirX will also work with WOW to "explore establishing local assembly, manufacturing, training and maintenance capabilities" for the AirFish craft in India.

The new partnerships will help to accelerate the commercial introduction of the craft and "strengthen its positioning as a next-generation high-speed mobility solution for coastal and regional transport", ST Engineering said.

Mr Jeffrey Lam, the president of commercial aerospace at ST Engineering, said: "These two agreements mark a significant development in our journey to bring the AirFish platform to market.

"By partnering with leading operators in the maritime travel industry, we are laying the foundation for wing-in-ground technology to become a new, high-speed mobility solution for the region.

"Together with our partners, we look forward to accelerating the adoption of this innovative craft and transforming how coastal and regional communities connect."

The AirFish is expected to achieve classification by mid-2026, said ST Engineering. ST Engineering AirX has been partnering with Bureau Veritas on the AirFish's classification and certification since 2024.

Additional reporting by Charlotte Lim.