DHL Express explores electric Seaglider deployment with REGENT
REGENT’s next-gen Seaglider combines aircraft-like speed with boat-like convenience, delivering fast, zero-emission transport.
REGENT Craft, the developer and manufacturer of all-electric Seaglider vessels, and DHL Express have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Dubai Airshow to explore using electric Seagliders for short-haul, coastal, and island logistics.
REGENT’s Seaglider vessel, a next-generation maritime craft, combines the speed of an aircraft with the convenience of a boat, offering high-speed, zero-emission transport. Through this partnership, REGENT and the global leader in international express delivery will work together to assess the potential integration of REGENT’s Seaglider vessels into DHL’s existing logistics network to extend the capabilities of its regional and coastal cargo operations.
Billy Thalheimer, Co-founder and CEO of REGENT, says: “This collaboration marks another important milestone as we build a more sustainable and connected global logistics ecosystem. Partnering with a global logistics pioneer like DHL allows us to demonstrate how Seaglider vessels can enhance efficiency, reduce emissions, and connect key trade routes across the Middle East and beyond.”
The partnership, set to begin in January 2026, will see DHL Express explore deploying Seaglider vessels in the Middle East first, before expanding to other key markets to advance a more sustainable future for logistics.
“At DHL Express, we are constantly exploring innovative solutions that can help us decarbonise logistics while improving efficiency and service for our customers. REGENT’s all-electric Seaglider represents a transformative step forward in sustainable maritime transport. Through this partnership, we aim to explore how this technology can enhance our regional and global operations, starting here in the Middle East, one of the world’s most dynamic logistics hubs,” says Bachi Spiga, VP Network Operations, DHL Express Middle East and North Africa.
REGENT and Strategic Development Fund (SDF) previously announced a joint venture that will manufacture REGENT’s Seaglider vessels in the UAE in addition to its manufacturing facility in Rhode Island. The joint venture will also provide aftermarket services such as maintenance and parts distribution, boosting local manufacturing capabilities and strengthening the UAE’s industrial base.
The partnership builds on REGENT’s work in the Middle East region, with Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre having signed an MoU with REGENT in 2024, and ADNOC L&S selecting the Seaglider vessel for a proof-of-concept trial to assess the craft’s suitability for transporting personnel to and from offshore energy infrastructure earlier in 2025.
