The new company Cityboat has ordered a state-of-the-art, electric passenger vessel to offer silent, pollution-free travel for passengers and tourists on the idyllic islands around Haugesund. The vessel is being delivered by the Norwegian maritime hi-tech company Hyke.

Cityboat is a joint venture between one of Norway’s leading express boat companies Rødne and Haugesund-based tourism expert Viking Adventure. The 15-meter “Hyke F-15 Shuttle” will be built by western Norway’s Herde Kompositt in Hardanger with mainly Norwegian systems and components.

 Margaret Hystad, owner and CEO of Viking Adventure and Cityboat’s manager, said harbour cruises around western Norway’s Haugesund have already begun, using a leased Hyke sister boat until the new boat is completed. Delivery is expected at the end of 2026.

UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE
“The Hyke vessel offers our guests an unforgettable experience in close contact with the surroundings, free from noise, vibrations and emissions,”

 “This is very exciting! We are always looking for new ways to showcase our wonderful city and unique city islands. The Hyke F-15 Shuttle opens a new market segment for us”,

Margaret Hystad, owner and CEO of Viking Adventurer Vislie and Cityboat’s manager.

 A BOAT FOR THE FUTURE
Unlike most electric passenger vessels requiring special charging stations, the F-15 Shuttle can use any electric car fast charger and even regular household electrical sockets. The boat’s light weight and advanced technical solutions let it operate a whole day without recharging.

“The Hyke F-15 Shuttle uses about the same amount of energy as five hair dryers and is in a class of its own no matter what you compare it to,”

A performance already proven in public transport operations in the eastern Norway city of Fredrikstad.

“This agreement is a recognition that our vessel also meets the demands of a very quality-conscious group looking for unique experiences,” says Halvor Vislie, CEO of Hyke.

GOOD NEWS FOR THE TRAVEL SECTOR
Family-owned Rødne is a leader in environmentally friendly maritime transport and tourism, as well as being a pioneer in electrification and innovative technology for express boats.

CEO Lars A. Rødne says the company closely followed Hyde’s trial project for several years and that its shuttles make new, smaller routes economically feasible.

“With its groundbreaking design, minimal energy consumption and low operating costs, the Hyke F-15 Shuttle represents something completely new in the market,” says Lars A. Rødne, CEO of Rødne.

The shuttle was designed, developed and built in Norway and is considered one of the world’s most energy efficient vessels of its type. It is also designed for serial production, cutting costs and delivery time. It represents a major and important step forward in sustainable tourism.

By using existing waterways, cities can establish new transport links with minimal physical intervention and significantly lower capital requirements.