HaiSea Marine is a joint venture majority owned by the Haisla Nation in partnership with Seaspan ULC
KITIMAT – HaiSea Marine, a partnership between Seaspan ULC and majority owned by northern BC’s Haisla Nation, celebrated the arrival of the world’s first fully electric tugboat, HaiSea Wamis, in Vancouver Harbour.
The HaiSea Wamis is the first of three fully electric tugboats to arrive at the company, and with HaiSea’s incoming dual-fuel (LNG and diesel) escort tugs, will comprise the greenest tugboat fleet in the world. Once delivered following sea trials in the Vancouver area, the fleet will make the voyage up the Douglas Channel to Kitimat where it will be based. It will provide ship-assist and escort towing services to LNG carriers calling at LNG Canada’s new export facility in the traditional territory of the Haisla Nation.
“The arrival of the HaiSea Wamis is a special moment for our team and our partners and represents a dream coming true. I look forward to the moment when the Wamis sets sail for Kitimat and boards its first crew of six – all from the Haisla Nation,” says Jordan Pechie, Senior Vice President of Seaspan Marine Transportation.
HaiSea’s green fleet of ElectRA 2800’s, a new series of battery electric harbour tugs, were specifically designed by Vancouver-based Naval architect firm Robert Allan for its innovative propulsion system to meet the unique requirements of assisting LNG carriers on and off the berths at the LNG Canada terminal.
The fully electric tugboats have a total battery capacity of 5288 kWh – which is the equivalent of running about 70 Teslas all day. The two dual fuel (LNG and Diesel) tugboats are RAstar 4000-DF escort tugs and with 100 tonnes of bollard pull will be some of the most powerful escort tugs on the west coast.
Business Examiner Staff
