Photo: Robert Allan
Tugboats aren't nearly as popular with the general public as superyachts, ferries, or even mammoth carriers, yet they can play a crucial role in green shipping. If we want clean and quiet harbors, we need green tugboats, among other things. Canada is already making it happen with what it claims to be the world's first green tugboat fleet, nearly complete and in operation.
Wee'Git is the name of the latest vessel to join the prestigious club of eco-friendly, new-generation tugs. It's part of a pioneering fleet operated by HaiSea Marine, a joint venture owned by Haisla Nation and Seaspan ULC.
When complete, the fleet will be comprised of two dual-fuel (LNG and diesel) escort tugs and three all-electric harbor tugs. The electric ones are based on the ElectRA 2800SX platform, and the dual-fuel ones - are on the RAstar-4000 DF. Both platforms were designed by the Vancouver-based naval architects at Robert Allan, exclusively for Sanmar Shipyards, where they were built.
The shipyard recently delivered Haisea Wee'Git to HaiSea Marine, following Haisea Wamis. The third one, Haisea Brave, will also be delivered by the end of this year. The pioneering fleet will operate in Kitimat, a region in British Columbia that's considered environmentally sensitive. Here, they'll offer standard harbor and escort services to the tankers calling at a new export facility owned by LNG Canada.
The fully-operational fleet will cut more than 10,000 tons of CO2 per year, compared to conventional tugs, and drastically reduce NOx, Sox, and particulate matter. Based on the region's green energy potential, they'll recharge using the dedicated shore charging facilities in Kilimat. Thanks to the all-electric propulsion, these boats will also be much quieter than their standard counterparts, which is a plus for marine life.
At 90 feet (28 meters), the ElectRA boasts a 6,102 kWh battery capacity. It combines a top speed of 12 knots (13.8 mph/22 kph) with a towing capacity (bollard pull) of 70 tonnes (77 tons). Designed to be as efficient as diesel-powered tugs, it can complete all ship-berthing and unberthing tasks on nothing else but battery power.
Although HaiSea's green fleet claims to be the first of its kind worldwide, it won't be limited to Canada. Four more all-electric tugs are already getting ready to be delivered in different parts of the world this year alone – two will be headed to South America, one to Norway, and one to Sanmar's fleet in Turkey.
Meanwhile, the US is also gearing up for its first all-electric tugboat. eWolf is the name of a green tugboat developed by Crowley, boasting a similar bollard pull as the ElectRA at a slightly more compact size (82 feet/25 meters). The eWolf will kick off operations at the Port of San Diego next year using a Shell charging station.
When complete, the fleet will be comprised of two dual-fuel (LNG and diesel) escort tugs and three all-electric harbor tugs. The electric ones are based on the ElectRA 2800SX platform, and the dual-fuel ones - are on the RAstar-4000 DF. Both platforms were designed by the Vancouver-based naval architects at Robert Allan, exclusively for Sanmar Shipyards, where they were built.
The shipyard recently delivered Haisea Wee'Git to HaiSea Marine, following Haisea Wamis. The third one, Haisea Brave, will also be delivered by the end of this year. The pioneering fleet will operate in Kitimat, a region in British Columbia that's considered environmentally sensitive. Here, they'll offer standard harbor and escort services to the tankers calling at a new export facility owned by LNG Canada.
The fully-operational fleet will cut more than 10,000 tons of CO2 per year, compared to conventional tugs, and drastically reduce NOx, Sox, and particulate matter. Based on the region's green energy potential, they'll recharge using the dedicated shore charging facilities in Kilimat. Thanks to the all-electric propulsion, these boats will also be much quieter than their standard counterparts, which is a plus for marine life.
At 90 feet (28 meters), the ElectRA boasts a 6,102 kWh battery capacity. It combines a top speed of 12 knots (13.8 mph/22 kph) with a towing capacity (bollard pull) of 70 tonnes (77 tons). Designed to be as efficient as diesel-powered tugs, it can complete all ship-berthing and unberthing tasks on nothing else but battery power.
Although HaiSea's green fleet claims to be the first of its kind worldwide, it won't be limited to Canada. Four more all-electric tugs are already getting ready to be delivered in different parts of the world this year alone – two will be headed to South America, one to Norway, and one to Sanmar's fleet in Turkey.
Meanwhile, the US is also gearing up for its first all-electric tugboat. eWolf is the name of a green tugboat developed by Crowley, boasting a similar bollard pull as the ElectRA at a slightly more compact size (82 feet/25 meters). The eWolf will kick off operations at the Port of San Diego next year using a Shell charging station.
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