Ekranoplans were created in the Soviet Union for military purposes. With their ability to float on the surface of the sea, they were seen as a missile launching platform that could evade radar detection and be faster than ships. Several attempts to revive the program failed but Singapore will now offer ekranoplan services to take passengers to Batam Island.
The AirFish Voyager flying ferry service between Singapore and Batam will be the first in the world. It can carry 10 passengers, fly at a speed of 100 knots (185 km/h), travel a distance of up to 300 nautical miles (550km) in waves up to 1.25 m high.
It will be operated by BatamFast starting in H2 2026 with the route selected to see the suitability of the operation. The journey between Tanaj Merah jetty in Singapore to Batam takes 30 minutes compared to 40 minutes using a regular ferry. In an interview with CNA, a BatamFast representative said they plan to offer a trip to Tioman Island which takes about 3 hours.
