A new electric boat provides a model of how electrification can enhance river hospitality.
The Transfluid propulsion system enables full electric operation as it travels on the River Seine
In Paris, on the waters of the Seine, Compagnie des Bateaux à Roue has presented its latest vessel. Héméra is a modern craft that combines elegance, innovation and respect for the environment. It is fully electric and equipped with cutting-edge technologies that minimize its environmental impact.
Compagnie des Bateaux à Roue, part of the Esprit Seine group, is known for its private cruise services and loating restaurants. With the Héméra, it is positioning itself as a leading player in the ecological transition process,
inaugurating the first fully electric boat to navigate the Seine. The vessel was built in the Haute-Seine shipyards in the Paris suburbs, and was launched in June 2024, in time for the Paris Olympic Games. Héméra joins a fleet of seven diesel units and the Maison Jaune floating restaurant. This new 39m-long boat features two electric motors and an aqua-thermal air-conditioning system. These solutions not only offer ecological benefits but also significantly reduce noise pollution. After careful tests, the noise from electric motors was observed to be less intense than diesel propulsion and fully complies with existing noise regulations.
Héméra offers passengers a unique experience, being able to accommodate up to 40 people seated or 60 for cocktails. The boat has two outdoor terraces and is ideal for cocktails, dinners, business seminars and private celebrations, including weddings. The boat has an operational range of up to four hours, enough for two-and-a-half-hour cruises.
An evolving sector
Héméra is not the only initiative aimed at decarbonizing the river cruise sector in Paris. Sustainable propulsion solutions expert Transfluid, which is headquartered in Italy, has participated in other electrification and
hybridization projects on passenger, work, patrol and other vessels, as well as on other French rivers, seas and beyond, confirming a growing trend toward more sustainable navigation.
On board Héméra is a hybrid propulsion system developed by Transfluid. This system enables operation in fully electric mode with flexibility and energy efficiency, allowing for greater environmental respect – particularly in urban and protected areas.
This new vessel demonstrates how tradition and innovation can successfully coexist, offering an ecological and modern cruising experience. Héméra, along with other projects that Transfluid is involved with, represents a model for the future of river navigation, combining advanced technology and respect for the environment,
and making the Seine an example of sustainability in the heart of Paris.
