Indian electric boat manufacturer Navalt has achieved a significant milestone with the export of its first vessel to North America. The company has shipped a 10-metre solar-electric catamaran, the Limo, to Halifax, marking its first delivery to the region and the first time a Navalt vessel has been exported as a fully engineered knock-down kit.
Instead of transporting the completed vessel, Navalt adopted a modular shipping strategy, breaking the catamaran into components that could be packed into five standard forty-foot containers. The shipment included two hulls, deck sections, a three-piece superstructure, and a dedicated outfitting container carrying batteries and remaining fit-out equipment.
According to the company, the knock-down approach significantly reduces logistics costs while enabling closer collaboration with local boatbuilding partners during final assembly. The project demonstrates Navalt’s capability to economically export premium electric vessels over long distances using containerized transport.
The vessel is currently undergoing reassembly in Halifax, where the hulls, deck, and superstructure are being integrated before final outfitting and commissioning.
Designed for Canadian Conditions
While the Limo was originally developed for tropical operating environments, the Halifax-bound vessel has been specifically adapted for the cold climate of Atlantic Canada.
The catamaran is equipped with a 2 x 20 kWh marine-grade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery system featuring integrated heating technology designed to maintain battery performance in sub-zero temperatures. The heating system ensures reliable charging and operation throughout the Canadian winter, addressing one of the key challenges associated with electric vessel deployment in cold climates.
Propulsion is provided by twin 15 kW inboard electric motors operating on Navalt’s independent dual battery-and-motor architecture. The redundant configuration allows the vessel to continue operating even if one propulsion system experiences a fault, enhancing operational reliability.
Premium Solar-Electric Cruising
Measuring 10 metres in length and 3.5 metres in beam, the Limo is designed as a premium solar-electric leisure vessel for private cruising. The catamaran features spacious interiors, lounge-style seating, and silent electric propulsion, offering an alternative to conventional fuel-powered recreational boats.
Despite being shipped in modular form, the vessel retains its original design characteristics, including its stable catamaran hull, refined interiors, and solar-electric propulsion system.
Expanding Global Reach
The Halifax project represents several firsts for Navalt: its first vessel delivered to North America, its first export using a fully engineered knock-down kit approach, and its first electric vessel specifically adapted for cold-weather operations.
The achievement highlights the company’s growing international ambitions and demonstrates the scalability of its electric marine technology beyond tropical and coastal markets.
As assembly progresses in Halifax, the project marks an important step in Navalt’s mission to expand sustainable marine mobility globally, extending its reach from the backwaters of Kerala to the harbours of Atlantic Canada.
