What Wallaby Boats does

Wallaby Boats GmbH is a German shipbuilder founded in 2020 in Kappeln, Schleswig-Holstein, that designs, produces, and licenses a modular family of suspension catamarans (WB-10 through WB-24, with a WB-27 in development for Japan) for the offshore wind, pilot, SOV daughter-craft, military, and specialized workboat markets. Its core technology is an exclusive global license to the Nauti-Craft suspension system (for 10–25m vessels), which decouples hulls from the chassis via Gen-5 BLDC-motor-driven corner units; this architecture enables roll/pitch/heave compensation, 75% lower passenger g-forces, and an Energy Recovery System (up to 60kW recovered per vessel, more than its generators produce) that feeds a 750V DC hybrid propulsion bus. Add-on modules include Wind (21 PAX), Pilot, Max PAX (51 seats), and Medical Emergency Response, plus the proprietary OFFtools digital ship management suite (DNV-certified, German Flag State approved).

The company monetizes through new-vessel hardware sales (WB-18 IMPULSE delivered to EnBW in 2024 is the flagship), repair services, spare parts, license royalties (e.g., NC-J for Japan), and OFFtools subscriptions. Production is delivered via a partner network — Hitzler Werft in Lauenburg for WB-16/18/20 and Tuco Marine in Fåborg, Denmark for composite parts of WB-12/14/15 — and vessels are built close to the client's area of operation to minimize carbon overheads. Wallaby Boats is majority-owned (78.75%) by OFFCON GmbH, which is itself privately held by founder Capt. Harald Hübner; the remaining equity is split among angel investor Achim Fölster and two co-founders.

Wallaby Boats operates with a very lean team (8 employees) and a founder-led enterprise sales motion targeting offshore wind operators, SOV providers, pilot services, and government/military buyers. Distribution is global in intent — with ISO 9001/14001/45001 and ISM-Code certifications from DNV, Lloyd's Register classification for the WB-18 prototype, Jones Act compliant builds for the US, and an exclusive Japan license — but commercially the company is still early, with one delivered production vessel, a 2024 product launch milestone, and an expanding variant roadmap that underpins its forward growth thesis.

Name

Wallaby Boats

Legal name

Wallaby Boats GmbH

Website

https://wallaby-boats.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wallaby Boats GmbH is a German shipbuilder (founded 2020, 8 employees) that designs and produces a modular family of suspension catamarans (10–24m) using an exclusively licensed Nauti-Craft Gen-5 suspension system with energy recovery, serving offshore wind operators, SOV operators, pilot services, military, and specialized workboat customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Marine Vessels

NAICS

Ship and Boat Building (3366), Boat Building (336612)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Pilot Boats & Crew Transfer/Service Craft (Pilotage, CTV-style workboats) (IMAJADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Catamaran & Multihull Leisure Craft Manufacturing (IMAJAEAC), Government & Municipal Service Craft (Research, Survey, Inspection, Buoy Tenders) (IMAJADAL)

Keywords

• Suspension catamarans
• Crew transfer vessels
• Offshore wind boats
• Pilot boats
• Workboat manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Kappeln

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. New Vessel Production and Sales: Production and sales of suspension catamarans including WB-10, WB-12, WB-14, WB-15, WB-18, WB-20, WB-24 in various configurations (CTV, daughter craft, pilot boat, workboat). Build location customized based on client's operational area.
2. Repair Services: Repair services for suspension catamarans including Nauti-Craft suspension systems and propulsion systems.
3. Spare Parts Supply: Spare part stock agreements for suspensions and propulsion of suspension catamarans.
4. Licensing Royalties: License fees from exclusive license partners such as NC-J for Japan market. Exclusive rights to build Nauti-Craft boats between 10-25 meters in licensed territories.
5. Digital Solutions/Software: OFFtools digital management system available for other vessels in client's fleet, providing integrated ship management solutions.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wallaby Boats GmbH designs, manufactures, and sells a modular family of suspension catamarans (Wallaby 10hybrid, 12hybrid, 18, 20hybrid, and 24hybrid) ranging from 10 to 25 meters, equipped with the patented Nauti-Craft Gen-5 suspension system and a patent-pending Energy Recovery System. The vessels are built to order as crew transfer vessels, daughter craft, pilot boats, and small workboats, primarily for offshore wind operators, pilot services, and government/military clients, with production carried out as close to the client's area of operation as possible.

Product overview

Wallaby Boats is a modular platform of suspension catamarans for offshore wind, pilot, and workboat operations. The product family spans 5 boat sizes (WB-10hybrid through WB-24hybrid), all utilizing the Nauti-Craft suspension system which separates hulls from chassis for unprecedented wave compensation. The Gen-5 suspension system with Energy Recovery System (ERS) enables hybrid propulsion and converts wave energy into electrical power. Add-on modules include Wind (21 PAX), Pilot, Max PAX (51 PAX), and Medical Emergency Response configurations, plus the proprietary OFFtools digital ship management software suite.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wallaby 24hybrid High-performance catamaran crew transfer vessel (CTV) with Gen-5 Nauti-Craft suspension system and hybrid propulsion. Compares in wave performance to 30m+ catamarans with 50-60% lower CAPEX and OPEX. Accommodates 4 crew members and is targeted at offshore wind and workboat operators.
• Wallaby 20hybrid Jones Act compliant daughter craft for US market with hybrid propulsion and patented Energy Recovery System. Exceeds WB-18 wave performance with higher speed and is available for European, Asian, and other markets.
• Wallaby 18 Large daughter craft and crew transfer vessel (CTV) that brought Nauti-Craft suspension technology from TRL 5 to TRL 7 in Germany. Serves as a CTV for nearshore wind farms or pilot boat in rough seas, achieving wave performance comparable to 24-28m catamarans at significantly lower cost and carbon footprint.
• Wallaby 12hybrid Daughter craft, pilot boat, or MEDEVAC and rescue boat with Nauti-Craft suspension system for offshore operations. Targeted at SOV operators, pilot services, and emergency response clients.
• Wallaby 10hybrid Designated daughter craft (DC) for offshore wind service vessel (OSV) with optional single-point hoist for safe lifting via the LARS system. Patent-protected single-point hoist arrangement and self-adjusting lifting beam for changes in center of gravity.
• Wind Module Module for offshore wind industry providing capacity for 21 PAX (18 in module plus 3 jump seats). Includes fore deck space for tools and spare parts, prepared for laser-assisted personnel lifting.
• Pilot Module Module for pilot operations with separate resting area including two small cabins, direct ECDIS access with AIS and radar, pilot plug, and two marine VHF radios.
• Max PAX Module Military-grade module accommodating 51 PAX (48 in module plus 3 jump seats) for high-capacity passenger transport.
• Medical Emergency Response Service (MERS) Ambulance module equippable on all Wallaby Boats for medical emergency response. Equipment varies by client requirements with optional amphibious kit for remote beach access.
• OFFtools Digital Ship Management System Integrated digital ship management solution including OFFlog (electronic logbook), OFFmaint (planned maintenance), OFFyard (repair planning), OFFcrew (crew management), OFFhsseq (safety management), OFFims (document management), OFFops (operational instructions), OFFpar (parts management), and OFFpers (crew planning).

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% reduction in g-forces experienced by passengers during transit
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and minor.

• Hitzler Werft GmbHcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 21 March 2024Main production partner for WB-18 prototype built in Lauenburg/Elbe. Built hull in collaboration with Wallaby Boats. Production partner for WB-16/18/20. Traditional shipyard with aluminum construction expertise.
• NC-J (Japan)regionalOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2024Exclusive License Agreement for Wallaby Boats in Japan. NC-J will be exclusive supplier of Wallaby Boats vessels with Nauti-Craft suspension system in Japan. Collaborated with AOM naval architects for WB-27 design tailored to Japanese metocean conditions.
• Sono MotorsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 October 2021LOI signed to install PV (solar panels) onto Wallaby 18 vessel for personnel and material transport for offshore windparks.
• Tuco Marine ApScoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 24 August 2020Danish production partner for composite construction. Expert in carbon/glass composite construction and daughter craft development. Produces composite parts for WB-12, WB-14, WB-15. Strategic partnership for production of most Wallaby-14 and chassis for Wallaby-15/16.
• Lloyd's RegistercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2020Classification society selected as classification provider for WB-18 prototype. Supporting OFFCON with approval of new design for prototype of Aluminum Catamaran as Offshore Wind Industry Service Workboat.
• Nauti-Craft Pty LtdcoreTechnology or Integration · 3 April 2020Australian developer of suspension system. Entered development and license agreement with OFFCON/Wallaby Boats. Inventor Chris Heyring provides ongoing support. Nauti-Craft designs suspension and provides required software solutions.
• AOM - Alfa One MarinecoreTechnology or IntegrationNaval architects from Western Australia. Long history of boat building and ship construction internationally. Founded Geraldton Boat Builders, later Strategic Marine with operations in Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Mexico. Naval architect for WB-27 design tailored for Japanese market.
• HYCOM (HYDAC Group)coreTechnology or IntegrationLeading specialist in complete hydraulic systems including control systems. Provides hydraulic solutions for suspension system. Member of HYDAC group with international network and local roots.
• Maritime A-Services GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides complete range of services for planning and construction of Wallaby-18. Includes preparation of planning and calculation documents for approval, production documents, detailed construction supervision, and line production improvement using modern CAD software.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Windcat Workboats: Windcat Workboats is a leading Dutch-based operator and builder of Crew Transfer Vessels for the offshore wind industry. They are a direct peer because they compete head-on with Wallaby in the CTV category targeting offshore wind operators, although they operate a conventional (non-suspension) hull fleet.
• Strategic Marine: Strategic Marine is a Singapore/Vietnam-based shipbuilder producing aluminum crew transfer vessels, fast crew boats, and catamarans for offshore wind and crew change. Direct peer because they build CTV hulls in the same size class and customer base that Wallaby targets.
• Hitzler Werft: Hitzler Werft is a German aluminum shipyard in Lauenburg/Elbe that builds the WB-16/18/20 prototypes as Wallaby's main production partner. Direct peer-adjacent because they share construction expertise and capacity for the same vessel category, though their primary business is broader aluminum shipbuilding.
• Tuco Marine ApS: Tuco Marine is a Danish builder of composite daughter crafts and workboats serving offshore wind and marine operators. They are a direct peer — and also a Wallaby production partner for WB-12/14/15 — because they manufacture similar composite hulls for the same CTV/daughter-craft market.

Broad incumbents

• ESVAGT: ESVAGT is a Danish operator of Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) and Crew Transfer Vessels serving European offshore wind farms. Broad incumbent because they overlap in the CTV procurement market with Wallaby's customers, but operate vessels rather than build suspension technology.
• Havfram: Havfram is a Norwegian offshore wind vessel operator and developer (formerly part of Siem Offshore) with a fleet of CTVs and SOVs. Broad incumbent because they are a major CTV/SOV buyer — a direct Wallaby customer — but do not build suspension technology.
• Edda Wind: Edda Wind is a Norwegian pure-play offshore wind SOV operator with a fleet of CSOVs serving European wind farms. Broad incumbent because they operate in the same SOV/CTV ecosystem and represent a potential strategic customer for Wallaby's daughter-craft and pilot-boat offerings.
• Austal: Austal is a global aluminum shipbuilder producing catamarans, fast ferries, and defense vessels from Australia and global yards. Broad incumbent because of overlap in aluminum catamaran construction and access to similar commercial and government buyers.
• Incat Tasmania: Incat is a Tasmanian aluminum catamaran builder producing large commercial vessels for ferry and offshore service markets. Broad incumbent because they construct aluminum catamarans in size classes overlapping Wallaby's WB-18/20/24, though their focus is on larger fast ferries.
• North Star: North Star is a UK-based offshore vessel operator with CTV and SOV exposure serving European offshore wind farms. Broad incumbent because they sit on the demand side of the same CTV market as Wallaby and influence vessel procurement specifications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=kCgVumRpLro
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wallaby-boats

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wallaby Boats