HaiSea Wamis – The world’s first fully electric harbour tugboat

In May 2021, HaiSea Marine announced the commissioning of an innovative and industry leading new battery powered and low emissions tugboat build program. The company, a joint venture majority owned by the Haisla First Nation in partnership with Seaspan ULC, is contracted with LNG Canada (partnered by Shell, PETRONAS, PetroChina, Mitsubishi Corporation and Korea Gas Corporation) to build and operate both escort and harbour tugs for vessels calling at a major new LNG export facility under construction in Kitimat, Northern British Columbia.

Supplied by readily available hydroelectric power, the new tugs will recharge from dedicated shore charging facilities at berth between dockings, effectively resulting in near-zero emissions when running on batteries. GHG emissions from the new tugs are expected to be significantly lower than diesel powered alternatives. The first vessel to be delivered under the program, the harbour tug HaiSea Wamis, is currently on passage from Turkey to Vancouver BC

Built by Sanmar Shipyards, Turkey

Owned and operated by HaiSea Marine

Designed by Vancouver based Robert Allan Ltd. and denoted as ElectRA 2800 electric harbour tug

LOA 28m

Beam 13m

Bollard pull 70 tonnes

Battery capacity approximately 6,000 kWh

Sister vessels (to be delivered): HaiSea Wee’git, HaiSea Brave

 

The two escort tugs are denoted RAstar 4000-DF escort dual fuel (LNG and diesel) tugs of LOA 40m and with 100 tonnes of bollard pull. These will be the west coast of Canada’s most powerful escort tugs – and among the world’s most high-performance escort tugs having the ability to generate indirect forces in escort of approximately 200 tonnes. They will also feature an exhaust after-treatment system in compliance with IMO Tier III emissions standards. They are to be named HaiSea Warrior and HaiSea Kermode.

                                         

                           ElectRA 2800 electric harbour tug design                        RAstar 4000-DF escort dual fuel design

 

The two berth LNG Canada project which is more than 80% complete is constructing a dedicated tug dock to support the HaiSea Marine fleet. LNG export production capacity is planned at 14 million tonnes per annum from the first two trains, with the potential to expand to four trains in the future.

HaiSea Wamis has been awarded the International Tug & Salvage Tug of the Year 2023 award. The award recognizes tugs that have set a benchmark in the industry with their innovative designs and effective operations. In addition, she is the first tugboat to receive the underwater noise notation from the American Bureau of Shipping.

 

Feature image courtesy: Sanmar Shipyard & Seaspan