Major ExploMar deal boosts electric ferry adoption 

ExploMar has secured a major order at CIBS 2026, signing an agreement with Caverton Offshore Support Group for 20 electric propulsion systems and a 5S energy station. The deal marks a significant step for commercial electric boating, with the two companies focused on expanding electric ferry operations in Lagos, Nigeria. 

The partnership centres on the OMIBUS EV 2.0, a fully electric ferry fitted with twin 300hp propulsion systems, producing 600hp in total. Designed for commercial service, the vessel is intended to reduce operating costs while improving efficiency and performance compared with petrol or diesel-powered alternatives. 

ExploMar and Caverton have spent the past two years developing and testing the technology. A prototype ferry is already operating in Lagos, carrying passengers as part of an ongoing pilot scheme. Early results are said to be encouraging, particularly in relation to running costs, which remain a key factor in the move towards electric propulsion. 

Olabode Makanjuola, Chief Executive Officer of Caverton Offshore Support Group and the visionary behind the OMIBUS programme, said: “The future of Nigeria’s waterways is electric. Cities like Lagos are defined by water, yet millions of residents remain trapped in road congestion while vast waterway networks lie underutilised. Conventional petrol and diesel-powered ferries are costly to operate and increasingly difficult to justify in dense urban environments.