Water mobility is a special area of expertise and passion for me, born out of my water projects in Thailand as well as my experience on many boats in many regions across the world.
Of the approximately 4000 cities and urban agglomerations with 100.000+ inhabitants globally, around half have waterfronts. The waters flanking these cities provide sustenance in the form of food production, trade, cooling, recreation, transport, carbon sequestration, oxygen production and biodiversity. Oceans, seas, lakes and rivers play a vital role in how we cope with climate change, manage the energy transition and embrace biodiversity.
However, it is our strong belief that only a tiny fragment of this potential is actually tapped. The blue economy is only recently emerging as a concept worth investing in. Blue carbon (carbon sequestered through mangroves, salt marshes, wetlands, seagrass and marine mammals) is taking way too long to be accredited in land carbon dominated carbon schemes. Living on water, although deeply ingrained in indigenous cultures, meets regulatory challenges in western economies. But the tide is turning and interest in water as the lifeblood for cities is emerging.
To tap the potential of the rivers, lakes, seas and oceans flanking our cities, we need to start with one key condition: moving people over water. Water mobility can be a cornerstone for the decarbonization of dense urban areas, and a demonstrator for the energy transition in shipping. Water mobility can connect parts of urban areas that over land would remain disconnected. But more importantly water mobility supports water living, water tourism, water recreation, and other blue economy activities. And when the technologies used are state of the art, like electric propulsion, the use of circular materials and foiling technology, a whole world of opportunities is unlocked.
People transport over water is the future. And the future starts today!
Water mobility is a huge global opportunity for sustainable urban people transport. Current solutions:
- are often aimed at cheap mass transit (ferries).
- are predominantly fossil fuel based.
- don’t offer a distinctive memorable passenger experience.
- don’t connect to other modes of transport
We propose water taxi services that fit the changing context of global urban mobility and sustainability challenges, the energy transition, climate change, SDG ambitions as well as the emerging public interest in eco-tourism, niche experiences, and bespoke luxury travel.
My work in water mobility includes:
- business model design
- boat concept design and sourcing
- electrification of existing fleets
- customer research and profiling
- stakeholder alignment
- experience and journey design
- docking and charging infrastructure design and sourcing
- staff training
- design and sourcing of digital touch points