AFI SOCIAL ENTERPRISES SUCCESS STORIES: Navalt

Name of Entrepreneur: Sandith Thandasherry

Founded: 2013

An eco-marine tech company with a bold vision: decarbonize the entire shipping industry with solar-electric vessels.

The makers of India's first solar ferry.

About the Startup:

Navalt is an eco-marine tech company that specializes in the manufacturing of solar electric vessels. Their ability to combine state-of-the-art data analytics with unique design skills has paved the way towards building vessels of stellar quality. Navalt’s flagship solar-electric ferry, “Aditya,” is recognized as the world’s best. Being a recipient of the Gustave Trouve award, Navalt has always pushed the boundaries of what is possible with regard to building more efficient vessels. Aditya (one of the first boats) makes 22 trips each day, and has carried almost 3.4 million passengers since its launch, saving about 175,000 litres of diesel fuel and almost a million pounds (435,000 kilograms) of CO2 emissions. Navalt now offers 30 different electric and solar electric boats, everything from the 120 passenger ferry Vego to electric yachts to fishing boats to the 5.5m / 18 ft Dialga leisure craft.

Navalt won the world’s best start-up award in the mobility and transportation category at the Berlin Start-up Energy Transition Awards 2023. It also received various prestigious awards, including the Gustave Trouve Awards twice. Navalt’s Avalon design won the Gussies in 2022 for Electric Workboats.

‘India’s fastest’ solar-electric boat Barracuda launched :

Named after the swift, long fish, Barracuda was designed by Navalt and can be deployed even in the rough seas as a workboat to ferry up to 12 passengers and cargo. The 14-metre-long, 4.4-metre-wide vessel can attain a top speed of 12.5 knots (23 kmph) and has a range of seven hours on a single charge.