U.S. Coast Guard Approves Seaglider Testing in Rhode Island Waters

Rhode Island-based REGENT Craft has received approval from the U.S. Coast Guard for its Navigational Safety Risk Assessment, marking a significant milestone in the development of all-electric seagliders.

The approval allows REGENT to begin testing its full-scale seaglider prototype in Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound.

The assessment, which included a third-party risk analysis of navigational safety and review of environmental and economic impacts, involved consultation with over 20 local stakeholders. These included the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, harbor masters, marine pilots, the U.S. Navy, and environmental groups.

“U.S. Coast Guard approval of REGENT’s Navigational Safety Risk Assessment marks a significant step in bringing us closer to seaglider prototype testing with humans on board,” said Ted Lester, VP of Certification at REGENT.

Seagliders, classified as maritime vessels under U.S. law, are all-electric hydrofoiling wing-in-ground craft that operate within one wingspan of the water’s surface. REGENT is working on certifying its Viceroy seaglider, a 12-passenger vehicle capable of traveling at 180 mph for up to 180 miles on a single charge.

Classification society Bureau Veritas issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for the Viceroy in August 2022, marking an important milestone in the commercialization of seagliders.

The company plans to begin testing the full-scale prototype with humans on board later this year, with the first flight scheduled for early next year. REGENT has already secured over 600 seaglider orders valued at more than $9 billion from various airline and ferry operators worldwide.

The approval is expected to serve as a model for future commercial seaglider approvals in other U.S. waterways and globally, potentially paving the way for a new era in sustainable maritime transportation.

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