A flying boat powered by hydrogen that celebrates the UAE's pearl legacy was unveiled at the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2022/03/09/dubai-boat-show-inside-the-floating-mansion-for-hire-with-its-own-helipad-and-beach-club/" target="_blank">Dubai International Boat Show</a> on Thursday. The vessel, called X-Pearl, has been designed to transport up to eight passengers “at the crossroads of the comfort of a luxury car, the convenience of a fast boat and the stability of a plane”, said French company SeaBubbles, which designed and built it. SeaBubbles has signed an agreement with the UAE's Al Masaood Group for the development of hydrogen projects in the country. The company envisages X-Pearl being used as a water taxi, VIP shuttle or private yacht. It can also be used for eco-tourism purposes in protected areas. “Navigating on the SeaBubbles X-Pearl is as smooth for the passengers as it is for the environment … a sensation that mirrors a high-tech zero-emission flying pearl above the water,” said Virginie Seurat, vice president of SeaBubbles. The boat operates by flying on submerged wings that lift the craft, in a manner similar to how a plane operates. A hydrogen fuel cell generates the supply of electricity for the internal systems and propulsion pods, and a battery pack supports it during flight to balance its power needs. The craft, which emits only water, is designed to rely on renewable energy sources. Also, foils fitted on the boat reduce its “wetted surface area”, helping to optimise the on-board power usage. This represents a saving of 35 per cent of necessary power for the same speed, as compared with a regular boat, SeaBubbles said. It was announced this year that the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/technology/2022/01/30/worlds-first-hydrogen-powered-hydrofoil-to-be-manufactured-in-dubai/" target="_blank">world's first hydrogen-powered hydrofoil</a> is to be manufactured in <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/dubai/">Dubai</a>. <a href="https://thejet.tech/">The Jet ZeroEmission</a>, a <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/switzerland/">Switzerland</a>-based start-up, signed an agreement with the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/uae/">UAE’s</a> Zenith Marine Services and Dwyn to manufacture and operate what it called the first clean energy, hydrogen-powered “flying boat” called The Jet. It has capacity for eight to 12 passengers and is equipped with two fuel cells and other environmentally friendly technology to help reduce carbon emissions.
