July 13, 2023 – North Vancouver, BC – This week, HaiSea Marine, majority owned by Haisla Nation in partnership with Seaspan ULC, celebrated the arrival of the world’s first fully electric tugboat as it sailed under the Lions Gate Bridge for the first time.
Over the next year, North Shore residents will see the HaiSea Wamis perform missions in the Vancouver Harbour and beyond. However, they won’t hear it because the HaiSea Wamis runs on 100 percent electric power and is quick, efficient, and quiet.
The HaiSea Wamis is the first of three fully electric tugboats to arrive on our shores and combined with HaiSea’s incoming dual-fuel (LNG and diesel) escort tugs, will comprise the greenest tugboat fleet in the world. Once delivered, the fleet will make the voyage up the Douglas Channel to Kitimat where it will be based and 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,” said Jordan Pechie, Senior Vice President of Seaspan Marine Transportation.
Watch: The HaiSea Wamis’ arrival video
Quick Facts about HaiSea’s green fleet:
- The ElectRA 2800 is a new series of battery electric harbour tugs and 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 the west coast of Canada’s most powerful escort tugs.
ABOUT HAISEA MARINE
HaiSea Marine is a joint venture majority owned by the Haisla Nation in partnership with Seaspan ULC. Both partners have considerable experience and knowledge of operating in Northern British Columbia, making HaiSea Marine a natural choice for providing responsible and dependable marine services in the region.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Jessica Gares
media@seaspan.com
236-989-7328