Waterfly Technologies, an IIT Madras-incubated startup, is preparing to test its electric sea-skimming craft in ocean conditions for the first time. The company plans to conduct trials between Chennai and Puducherry by the end of 2026, marking an important step towards commercialising its cargo transportation technology.
The craft, known as a Wing-in-Ground (WIG) vehicle, is designed to travel just above the water’s surface. It uses an aerodynamic phenomenon called the ground effect to reduce drag and improve efficiency.
The planned trial will use a 300-kg craft that has already been developed and tested at Kaveripakkam Lake in Tamil Nadu’s Ranipet district.
“The planned Chennai-Puducherry trial will use a 300-kg craft that we have developed and tested on the Kaveripakkam Lake in Tamil Nadu’s Ranipet district. The trial will help us assess the craft’s performance in ocean conditions as we move towards commercial deployment,” said Waterfly Technologies co-founder Keshav Kumar Choudhary.
On October 11, the startup unveiled its electric craft, named Hummingbird, in Chennai in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to Choudhary, Modi congratulated the team and expressed hope that the craft would soon operate over the ocean.
From prototype testing to ocean trials
Waterfly initially spent around 6 months developing and testing a 30-kg prototype to understand how the craft could take off from water and transition into flight. The team then spent another 6 months scaling the design to a 300-kg version.
The larger prototype was tested at an altitude of approximately 1.5 metres above the water to study the ground effect. This phenomenon reduces induced drag and improves aerodynamic efficiency.
“Data from the tests helped us refine digital simulations and develop the design unveiled during PM’s visit,” Choudhary said.
The startup is targeting cargo transportation costs of less than Rs 10 per tonne-kilometre, based on its current design and projected operating expenses.
Coastal cargo routes planned first
Waterfly plans to begin operations on coastal and island cargo routes, including logistics support for offshore oil fields. It is also exploring the use of ships equipped with solar panels and batteries as charging stations at sea to support longer journeys.
The company estimates that its craft could travel around 1,000 km on a single charge, with charging stops taking approximately 15 minutes.
Waterfly has also outlined a long-term vision of connecting Chennai and Kolkata in around 3 hours, with fares as low as Rs 600.
“We plan to develop a version capable of carrying one standard 20-foot shipping container, with Southeast Asia as its initial target market. Longer trans-Pacific, trans-Arctic and trans-Atlantic routes are part of our ambitions as the technology scales,” Choudhary said.
Manufacturing and certification plans
Waterfly is in discussions with classification and certification agencies, including Bureau Veritas, to assess the requirements for its cargo craft.
The startup is manufacturing its technology in-house to control costs and speed up design improvements. It operates a warehouse in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, and says it has the capacity to manufacture 2 craft weighing 300 kg each per week.
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