If you’ve ever been to the Scottish Highlands, you’ll know that public transport is rather limited in the most rural of areas.
But those living by the coast might one day be able to travel around the region via a ‘flying boat’.
That’s because Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (Hitrans) is teaming up with US-based company, Regent, who have developed an electric vessel known as a Seaglider.
The Seaglider is the first-ever vehicle to successfully utilise three modes of maritime operation – floating, foiling and flying – which means it can travel on the surface of the water, skim the surface on a hydrofoil and even fly at a low level.
The vessel can hold up to 12 passengers at one time, as well as two crew members and is able to reach speeds of 180mph.
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Hitrans and Regent are currently in the early stages of a partnership, exploring whether the Seaglider would be a viable transport option for North Scotland.
The first stage of the collaboration will focus on data sharing and how they could improve the transport network in Scotland and help reduce CO2 emissions.
Nothing is set in stone, but if research goes well they could trial the vessels in the future.
Adam Triolo, the vice president of commercial business development at Regent, said that the work with Hitrans was an ‘exciting opportunity to showcase the potential human and environmental benefits’ of the Seaglider vessels.
‘Regent’s Seaglider technology is an all-electric sustainable solution that could transform the way people transit this area of natural beauty,’ he continued.
David Holden, the regional sustainable aviation manager at Hitrans added: ‘Regent are bringing much needed innovation to coastal transportation which has the potential to transform how people travel across the Highlands and Islands in the future.
‘We look forward to continuing to collaborate and help to realise the vision of Seaglider travel for the people of Scotland.’
In other sea news a cruise ship has gone viral for a ‘depressing’ feature – a ‘virtual balcony’.
Passengers on the Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas who can’t afford a balcony room are able to book a room with a high-definition screen that ‘brings a live ocean view right to you’ for £858.
The ‘window’ has curtains and a fake railing, with a live feed that plays whenever you wish to see it.
First introduced in 2014, the virtual balcony was considered ground-breaking at the time. The cruise line worked with experts at MIT and Harvard to design the technology, which uses cameras stationed around the ship to bring a live-feed to the rooms.
For some, it’s a fair deal as a balcony room starts at £924.
Influencer Tamara Wheeler recently reviewed her experience staying in one of the rooms with a virtual balcony and while many social media users thought it was ‘awesome’ others said it ‘artificial and dystopian’.
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