The UK’s first hybrid high speed passenger ferry will launch on the river Thames later this year and it is being built on the Isle of Wight.

New additions to the Thames Clippers fleet are being constructed at Wight Shipyard, in East Cowes and are expected to start service in the autumn, with another launch planned for the spring.

The Uber Boat will use batteries on its route, between Tower and Battersea Power Station piers.

It will recharge offshore using biofuelled power, outside central London.

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Isle of Wight County Press: Wight Shipyard, East Cowes.

Isle of Wight County Press: The Uber Boat is being built at Wight Shipyard, East Cowes (Photo by Uber Boat by Thames Clippers).The Uber Boat is being built at Wight Shipyard, East Cowes (Photo by Uber Boat by Thames Clippers).

Sean Collins, co-founder and CEO of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, said: "This development in technology has enabled us to take the first major steps to meet our future environmental vision.

"After the challenges of the last two years that Covid has set upon businesses, in particular in the transport sector, I’m extremely excited to be increasing our capacity to meet the demands of our customers and partners.

"As a business, we are continuing to embrace the emerging technological advances that will see us continue to develop our fleet and infrastructure, thereby supporting a sustainable future in our industry."

Thames Clippers and Wight Shipyard have a long history of working together, with numerous vessels delivered in the last decade.