‘It will change the game, for sure’
All forms of transportation are going electric these days, as people increasingly move away from gas-powered vehicles in an attempt to save money at the pump and do less harm to our planet. The latest addition to this list is the first in North America. electric tugboatIt was introduced in Vancouver, Canada, in July.
Created in partnership between sea opena shipyard based in Vancouver and Haisla NationThe boat, owned by the group government of the indigenous Haisla people, is called HaiSea Marine. Designed by shipbuilding company Robert Allan Ltd. It was built in a shipyard in Türkiye, where many tugboats in the world are produced. Business in Vancouver.
The tug named “Sparky”, also known as the electric tugboat, is believed to be the largest tugboat in the world. the first “full-size, ship-transporting electric tugboat” It entered service in New Zealand in June 2022.
The Haisla Nation has pushed Seaspan to build zero-emission tugboats as part of talks to approve a new export terminal.
Not only is the HaiSea Marine much better for the environment than traditional gas-powered tugs, but its electric operation offers a number of other additional benefits. While conventional tugs have two huge smokestacks that release polluting diesel exhaust, HaiSea Marine doesn’t need them; As a result, there is nothing preventing it from seeing its surroundings, which is a vital advantage for tugboats.
“This is definitely going to be a game changer,” said Jordan Pechie, senior vice president of Seaspan Marine Transport. he told BIV.
“Visibility is everything,” Pechia added. “Especially when the ship is docking, you need to see all the touchpoints, you need to see your crew, you need to see the lines.”
In addition, the electric motor allows tugboat captains to react much faster and maneuver much faster than they are used to. The electric motor produces 33% less underwater noise than a diesel engine, making it less damaging to marine life.
Although the HaiSea Marine, the first of its kind, costs more to build than a conventional diesel tug, Pechie estimates that break-even will occur in just eight years due to reduced operating costs.
Following HaiSea Marine’s example, several additional electric tugs are in production. The third ship of this type in early December delivered To Vancouver.
“This model is the model of the future. This is what British Columbia has. Electric tugs make perfect sense for terminal contracts,” Pechie said. “So it’s good to know that we’re not crazy. Smart people are copying us, which means we’re going in the right direction.”
