ZAWAS

The Water Shuttle experience

For a thriving urban life, top-tier mobility services and experiences are indispensable. Waterways offer transformative solutions, catering not just to everyday city dwellers, but also to governmental bodies, real estate developers, and more. Discover how these natural pathways can enrich our urban experience from multiple perspectives. Dive into scenario for a glimpse into the future.

Read a Customer Journey

Water shuttles

Benefits all user groups

Your own water shuttle fleet

What you need to know

Imagine a fleet of water shuttles enhancing your city's mobility! Curious about making this vision a reality? We're here to guide you. We'll introduce the essential components of a water shuttle fleet and offer supportive checklists. Plus, our partners stand ready to assist every step of the way.

Our Solutions

A Water Shuttle System

The City Context
A Water Shuttle System is made to a be a integral part of the vibrant city life. To ensure an attractive and integrated service for citizens and visitors the following systems components should be considered:
- Where is the right places for a crossing today and in a desired future?
- How can different city districts be connected instead of separated by the water and improve the mobility flow?
- How can using the waterway boost the desired city development?
- How can the water shuttle fleet reduce the number of cars and trucks in crowded city streets?
- How can we inspire walking and biking in combination with a water shuttle?
- How can both people and goods flow more unhindered in the city?
- How can travellers on the water shuttle seamlessly continue by bus, train, tram etc
Stakeholders to include in this work: City government, real estate developers, urbanists, landscape architects, mobility operators, water shuttle suppliers etc.
Zero Emissions
A Water Shuttle System must be zero-emission! Today there are a wide range of possible configurations and solutions to choose from, and they are well proven. To ensure the right configuarion for your specific city the following conditions will be central:
- How many passengers shall be transported each crossing
- What are the conditions where the crossing is planned (current, distance, weather conditions)
- How is the charging possibilities at each stop
- What are the alternatives for energy supply (grid, solar, etc)
Stakeholders to include in this work: Maritime authorities, city planners, mobility operator, water shuttle suppliers, energy providers etc
Land based infrastructure
A Water Shuttle needs to dock, people and good will need to both get on and off in a safe and comfortable manner. Most shuttles will need charging and for those shuttles that will operate with limited or without personell, a remote operation centre will be required.
- What is the need for charging solutions at the stop and how should it be operated?
- How can a safe and comfortable docking be done for shuttle, passengers and goods.
- From where and by whom can the shuttle fleet and the operation be supervised/controlled
Stakeholders to include in this work: Maritime authorities, dock owners, land owners, mobility operator, water shuttle suppliers, energy providers, utility companies, etc
Operation - efficiency, safety and reliability
A Water Shuttle fleet is only attractive to the users if it can be trusted. It must operate as promised, on time and offer a smooth journey. We must feel safe, both waiting at the doc, travelling on water and together with our co-passengers. There are many alternative strategies to ensure both efficiency, safety and reliability. To chose the right one for you city the following questions are a good starting point.
- How is passenger safety and security ensured? What is taken care of by technology and what is provided by servants onboard?
- How will an incident be resolved regarding a traffic situation, a health related situation or a unpleasant experience onboard.
Stakeholders to include in this work: Maritime authorities, rescue personell, shuttle suppliers, techology providors, digital infrastructure experts ect.
Integrated Mobility across land and sea
None of us has the dock as the starting point or destination of our journey. Offering a seamless integration with other transport means will increase the satisfaction and the attraction of the mobility system over all.
- How can we offer a seamless and hazzelfree experience?
- How can the travellers be updated on time schedules and current status in the service?
- How can the travellers be guided to choose the most beneficial and environmental route?
Stakeholders to include in this work: TBD
Stakeholders, regulators and government
Zero-Emission and automated/autonomous water shuttles are getting more an more common and can be a part of your mobility system already today. There might though be need fore some adjustments or clarifications with local regulators and government.
- What is the current maritime legislation to consider?
- How is energy supply planned to be made availabe?
- Are there city planning processes tho consider?
Stakeholders to include in this work: TBD

The City Context
Zero Emissions
Land based infrastructure
Operation - efficiency, safety and reliability
Integrated Mobility across land and sea
Stakeholders, regulators and government

A Water Shuttle System is made to a be a integral part of the vibrant city life. To ensure an attractive and integrated service for citizens and visitors the following systems components should be considered:
- Where is the right places for a crossing today and in a desired future?
- How can different city districts be connected instead of separated by the water and improve the mobility flow?
- How can using the waterway boost the desired city development?
- How can the water shuttle fleet reduce the number of cars and trucks in crowded city streets?
- How can we inspire walking and biking in combination with a water shuttle?
- How can both people and goods flow more unhindered in the city?
- How can travellers on the water shuttle seamlessly continue by bus, train, tram etc
Stakeholders to include in this work: City government, real estate developers, urbanists, landscape architects, mobility operators, water shuttle suppliers etc.
A Water Shuttle System must be zero-emission! Today there are a wide range of possible configurations and solutions to choose from, and they are well proven. To ensure the right configuarion for your specific city the following conditions will be central:
- How many passengers shall be transported each crossing
- What are the conditions where the crossing is planned (current, distance, weather conditions)
- How is the charging possibilities at each stop
- What are the alternatives for energy supply (grid, solar, etc)
Stakeholders to include in this work: Maritime authorities, city planners, mobility operator, water shuttle suppliers, energy providers etc
A Water Shuttle needs to dock, people and good will need to both get on and off in a safe and comfortable manner. Most shuttles will need charging and for those shuttles that will operate with limited or without personell, a remote operation centre will be required.
- What is the need for charging solutions at the stop and how should it be operated?
- How can a safe and comfortable docking be done for shuttle, passengers and goods.
- From where and by whom can the shuttle fleet and the operation be supervised/controlled
Stakeholders to include in this work: Maritime authorities, dock owners, land owners, mobility operator, water shuttle suppliers, energy providers, utility companies, etc
A Water Shuttle fleet is only attractive to the users if it can be trusted. It must operate as promised, on time and offer a smooth journey. We must feel safe, both waiting at the doc, travelling on water and together with our co-passengers. There are many alternative strategies to ensure both efficiency, safety and reliability. To chose the right one for you city the following questions are a good starting point.
- How is passenger safety and security ensured? What is taken care of by technology and what is provided by servants onboard?
- How will an incident be resolved regarding a traffic situation, a health related situation or a unpleasant experience onboard.
Stakeholders to include in this work: Maritime authorities, rescue personell, shuttle suppliers, techology providors, digital infrastructure experts ect.
None of us has the dock as the starting point or destination of our journey. Offering a seamless integration with other transport means will increase the satisfaction and the attraction of the mobility system over all.
- How can we offer a seamless and hazzelfree experience?
- How can the travellers be updated on time schedules and current status in the service?
- How can the travellers be guided to choose the most beneficial and environmental route?
Stakeholders to include in this work: TBD
Zero-Emission and automated/autonomous water shuttles are getting more an more common and can be a part of your mobility system already today. There might though be need fore some adjustments or clarifications with local regulators and government.
- What is the current maritime legislation to consider?
- How is energy supply planned to be made availabe?
- Are there city planning processes tho consider?
Stakeholders to include in this work: TBD

Download documents

GUIDE - Components of a ZAWAS shuttle system

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GUIDE - Customer and supplier collaboration

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Whitepaper - Using the Watchkeeping regulation to verify safe operation of Uncrewed Surface Vessels

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GUIDE - How to integrate Water Shuttles with other transportation systems

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Pain points adressed

Benefits

Today's urban mobility often grapples with being unsustainable, inefficient, unsafe, and costly. Imagine a solution where water shuttles effortlessly address these challenges, redefining city transportation. Dive in to discover how.

Sustainable

Despite advances in green technology, emissions from cars and trucks remain a significant concern. Paired with the unsustainable utilization of urban land and the pressing need for more CO2-neutral energy sources, our journey towards truly green cities still has considerable ground to cover. It's imperative we redouble our efforts to ensure future generations inherit the eco-friendly urban landscapes they rightfully deserve.
Efficient

Cities grapple with congested streets, making daily commutes increasingly tedious. The prevalent reliance on personal cars, often with just a single passenger, combined with a logistics system that inefficiently transports significant amounts of unutilized space, presents a glaring inefficiency. There's vast potential to streamline our urban transportation, optimizing both time and resources for a smoother, more efficient journey.
Safe

Overcrowded streets not only increase the risk of traffic accidents but also contribute to air pollution. Combining pedestrians, bicyclists, and heavy trucks in the same space creates a hazardous environment. Furthermore, congested urban settings discourage walking and cycling, leading to health issues related to reduced physical activity.
Afforable

Large-scale infrastructure projects, like roads and bridges, require substantial investments and strain limited urban spaces. They consume extensive areas, curbing flexibility for future city planning. Once established, they're almost permanent, hindering adaptability to changing urban demands and exacerbating congestion. The combined financial and spatial challenges highlight the need for sustainable, adaptive mobility solutions.