Soon, the Philippines’ coastal and inland waters may be powered by electric ferries — as three key maritime players unite to make it happen.

The Philippine Association of Coastal and Inland Water Ferries, Inc. (PACIWFI), IMP Shipyard & Port Services, Inc., and Norway’s ZEM AS (Zero Emission Maritime Solutions) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly develop a Prototype Electric/Hybrid Propulsion Ferry (eFerry) — a model for modern, low-emission water transport in the country.

“This collaboration is a major step in transforming our coastal transport ecosystem into a safe, modern, and climate-resilient system,” said Juan Miguel Gonzales, Executive Director of PACIWFI.

IMP Shipyard President Capt. Gaudencio C. Morales added, “We are proud to contribute to nation-building through innovative vessel construction — building the next generation of Filipino-made ferries.”

For his part, ZEM AS CEO Jonathan Sørbye said, “ZEM is committed to introducing clean propulsion systems to Philippine waters and proving that sustainability and efficiency can go hand in hand.”

Meanwhile, MARINA Administrator Sonia Malaluan emphasized, “We recognize the initiative of PACIWFI, IMP Shipyard, and ZEM AS in leading the way toward clean and modern maritime transport. Partnerships like this bring us closer to a greener and more resilient future for the Philippine maritime industry.”

Once completed, the eFerry prototype will serve as a demonstration vessel for replication across coastal provinces and inland waterways — advancing the Integrated Modernization Program for the Coastal and Inland Water Transport System (CIWTS) under the Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP) 2028 and supporting the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023–2028 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 9, 13, and 14.

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