B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021

Fall 2021

TUGBOAT The Cadboro Bay

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #40934510

The Coast Guard’s newest RAPID RESPONSE VESSEL

The world’s first zero-emission ultimate ship BC Ferries: Vessels of the future NOW What operators need to know about the Canadian Coasting Trade Act

OUR FOCUS

TO SERVE THE FOREST INDUSTRY, TRANSPORTING LOGS, LUMBER, LUMBER RESIDUALS, PULP AND PAPER TO AND FROM COASTAL MILLS AND FOR EXPORT OVERSEAS. R

Hodder

Tugboat Co. Ltd.

AREA OF OPERATION

OUR SERVICES EXTEND ALONG BRITISH COLUMBIA PACIFIC NORTHWEST AS WELL AS THE NAVIGABLE REACHES OF THE FRASER RIVER, SQUAMISH, HOWE SOUND AND VANCOUVER HARBOR. WE ALSO OPERATE IN THE US WATERS.

OTHER INDUSTRIES WE SERVE

SHORT-SEA SHIPPING, SAND AND GRAVEL AGGREGATE, CONSTRUCTION, OCEAN DISPOSAL, GENERAL BULK CARGO, AND FUEL TRANSPORTATION.

· SPECIAL PROJECTS · BARGE TOWING

· LOG TOWING · BOOM REPAIRS · LOG STORAGE · YARDING

Our long history of superior customer service and commitment to safety will never change.

We are looking forward to working with both exis ng and future customers, providing an essen al service to the coast we love.

DISPATCH (24/7): 604-273-2821 | WWW.HODDERTUG.COM | 16031 RIVER ROAD, RICHMOND, B.C. V6V 1X5

Published by DEL COMMUNICATIONS INC. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3L 0G5 delcommunications.com President & CEO:

DAVID LANGSTAFF Managing Editor:

TAMMY SCHUSTER

Fall 2021

CO N T E N T S

tammy@delcommunications.com

Message from the editor............................................................................................................... 4

Advertising Sales Manager:

Under the sea: Installing subsea cable work with precision..................................................6

dayna@delcommunications.com

Overview of the Coasting Trade Act – by Bernard LLP........................................................ 10

DAYNA OULION

Advertising Sales:

BRENT ASTROPE brent@delcommunications.com

Production services provided by: S.G. Bennett Marketing Services www.sgbennett.com Creative Director / Design:

KATHLEEN CABLE

© Copyright 2021 DEL Communications Inc. All rights reserved.The contents of this pub­lica­tion may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without prior

Forward together. Ledcor builds a solid presence in B.C. waters...................................... 12 BC Ferries Island Class ships – ferries for the future, now................................................ 14 ZEUS: The first zero emission ultimate ship in the world.................................................... 16 Bracewell Marine Group – Expert marine craft construction and repair........................ 18 MED Marine launches 120TBP tug built for Keyna Ports Authority.................................20 Ocean Group acquires Samson Tugboats in Vancouver.......................................................22 Increased demand results in record cargo volumes through the Port of Vancouver – by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority...........................................24 The Coast Guard’s newest rapid response vessel.................................................................26

written consent of the publisher.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein and the reliability of the source, the

INDE X TO A DV ERTISERS Albion Marine Solutions Ltd..............................25

Ledcor...................................................................... 13

the information and is not responsible for

Arrow Marine Services......................................... 4

Med Marine............................................................21

errors, omissions or statements made by

Bernard LLP............................................................11

North Island College............................................ 15

publisher­in no way guarantees nor warrants

advertisers. Opinions and recommendations made by contributors or advertisers are not

Bracewell Marine..............................................OBC

necessarily those of the publisher, its direc-

Catherwood Towing Ltd........................................ 5

tors, officers or employees.

Discovery Harbour Fuel Sales........................... 15

Publications mail agreement #40934510

Donaldson Ropes...................................................11

Return undeliverable

Emery Electric.......................................................16

Canadian addresses to: DEL Communications Inc.

Group Ocean..........................................................23

Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road

Harken Towing.......................................................11

Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3L 0G5 Email: david@delcommunications.com PRINTED IN CANADA 11/2021

Hodder Tugboat Co. Ltd.....................................IFC

Osborne Propellers..............................................22 Paynes Marine Group..........................................10 Point Hope Maritime............................................. 8 Redden Net & Rope............................................... 9 Rina Classification............................................... 17 Robert Allan Ltd................................................. OFC Seaspan Shipyards..............................................19

Innovative Manufacturing..................................27

Tymac......................................................................23

Island Tug & Barge.................................................7

Wainwright Marine.............................................. 18

King Bros. Limited................................................26

Western Maritme Institute................................ 19

COVER PHOTO BY DONALD GILLIES FOR ROBERT ALLAN LTD. STORY ON PAGE 26.

B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021 3

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR If 2020 was the year of the ‘pivot’ and the ‘new normal’, then 2021 is the year of the ramp up. With loads of activity in the water and more on the horizon, the seas are brewing with opportunity. Starting with this very publication, the B.C. Tugboat magazine will be producing two issues per year with a spring and a fall release. We also have our online presence at bctugboat.com with the latest in industry news and information.

In this issue, we have stories of positive change in terms of environmental impact from B.C. Ferries, and reports of increased demand from the Port of Vancouver, along with many local thriving companies geared to support the industry and the province.

We hope you enjoy our first fall edition of the B.C. Tugboat magazine and look forward to seeing you again in the spring. Until then, visit us online at bctugboat.com or contact me directly at tammy@delcommunications.com.

Ü

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B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021

50 CELEBRATING

YEARS IN BUSINESS

BEEN THERE, TOWED THAT.

101-32885 Mission Way, Mission, BC V2V 6E4

604.826.9221 VANCOUVER: 604.462.9221 MOBILE: 604.302.1991

HEAD OFFICE:

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Providing safe and efficient towage on the Fraser River and B.C. Coast for over 50 years.

UNDER THE SEA Installing subsea cable work with precision

T

his month we were introduced to ITB Subsea Ltd. a British Columbia submarine services company that works under the storied Island Tug and Barge (ITB) Marine Group. While many

can be excused for not knowing whom ITB Subsea are, those living on the B.C. coast, Alaska, and those in Washington State may be surprised to hear this boutique company has been part of bringing power and communications via submarine cables to their area since 1965.

ITB Subsea Ltd. is located in the Port of Vancouver at ITB Marine Group’s Burnaby marine terminal which provides a large secure lay down area, heavy lift equipment, a large shore-based labour pool, water access points, and multiple support vessels. This enables ITB Subsea to quickly mobilize their customised subsea equipment and dynamic positioning (DP) vessel for any project or client request in rapid time.

We were impressed to find out that this B.C. subsea company has been installing submarine cables for 56 years and has completed over 430 submarine cable projects. Though considered a boutique Workclass ROV being pulled from the water during the Bowen Island cable lay.

6

B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021

cable lay company, ITB Subsea is commonly known with industry experts as

Bowen Island crew.

ITB Subsea barge in the fall.

a tried and tested cable lay company with an outstanding

recovery, inspection, and repairs. In the past five years,

record of completing difficult projects in the Pacific

ITB Subsea’s ROVs and support tugs have been utilized in

Northwest. Their extensive list of projects include work with

the deployment and installation of two large outfalls on

a variety of cable types and in diverse bodies of water,

the B.C. coast, with one of these outfalls measuring one

from the challenging tidal waters of the coast to remote

nautical mile long! When not utilizing their specialized

lake locations.

equipment, ITB Subsea staff are consulting and providing

Submarine cable laying is not their only area of expertise

project management services to the marine construction

as they have highly qualified work class and observation

industry. After their impressive 56 years of service in the

class remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) which are

subsea and marine industry, and viewing their list of client

routinely used by the scientific community on subsea

recommendations, it is no wonder ITB Subsea is considered

research networks and platforms for their deployment,

a leader in the industry.

•

•

•

B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021

7

rebuilt the entire barge, and outfitted it with a full suite of cable lay equipment, completing sea trials in under five weeks. The team and equipment then went on to lay three, 4.6-kilometre-long 138 kV submarine power cables across the lake in depths up to 284 metres, along with three short spare lengths in under seven days. While impressive, this is only one of the over 60 submarine cable projects ITB Subsea has successfully undertaken within the last 10 years alone. Each project was bespoke and required the custom LCM-Turntable during the Bowen Island cable lay project.

This year has been ITB Subsea’s busiest yet and with investment coming from their parent company, Tidewater USA, they are looking to keep that momentum growing with the new demands coming from the utilities and energy sector. Recently ITB Subsea invested well over $1 million CAD into a new Linear Cable Machine (LCM) which has expanded their capabilities to handle the largest submarine transmission power cables in the Pacific Northwest. The LCM is electric driven and is part of ITB Subsea’s Green Initiative for reducing equipment and fleet emissions.

ITB Subsea’s vessel and equipment are lauded for their mobility. All the company’s equipment has been modularly designed which allows for rapid reconfiguration. This was demonstrated recently when ITB Subsea completely demobilized their dynamically positioned (computer control system that automatically maintains vessel’s position), self-propelled cable lay barge at their Berry Point Marine Terminal, trucked it north to a remote lake,

deck layout of their self-propelled DP barge (ITB45) to be adapted and reconfigured to suit the clients’ requirements.

ITB Subsea recognizes that to complete a project successfully, their equipment needs to be operated by a competent team, with abundant subsea experience and thorough marine training. Safety training is executed and completed through ITB’s inhouse Quality, Health, Safety, Security, and Environment Department. Only the most qualified DP officers, cable superintendents, engineers and deck crews are permitted to be on subsea projects.

The current team has worked together on the aforementioned 60 submarine cable projects. They have formed a cohesive, knowledgeable, and highly efficient team, so much so that they are mentioned and applauded in the letters of recommendation written by clients and representatives who have been onboard during the projects. ITB Subsea prides itself in providing quality service, experienced personnel, state-of-the-art tools and equipment, and effective processes to successfully deliver a wide range of subsea services. Ü

Point Hope Maritime & Esquimalt Drydock Company are both full service shipyards strategically located in Victoria, B.C., Canada.

Recognized for our project management expertise, we offer our clients reliable dry-docking and along-side ship repair, conversion, refit and maintenance services for all types of vessels.

We work to the highest professional standards and have earned our success by consistently providing safe, efficient and high quality services delivered by skilled employees.

POINT HOPE MARITIME & ESQUIMALT DRYDOCK COMPANY

345 Harbour Road, Victoria, BC V9A 3S2 250-385-3623 | info@pointhopemaritime.com pointhopemaritime.com

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B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021

REDDEN NET & ROPE:

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Coasting Trade Act overview

By Jeffrey Wu, Associate Lawyer at Bernard LLP

T

he Canadian Coasting Trade Act (the “Act”)

is available to perform the activity described in the

regulates the operation of vessels in Canada’s

application. In addition, the Minister must be satisfied that

coasting trade and is similar to the Jones Act

arrangements have been made for the payment of the

in the United States. The legislation prohibits

duties and taxes under the Customs Tariff and the Excise

any foreign ship or non-duty paid ship from

Tax Act in relation to the foreign ship or non-duty paid

engaging in “coasting trade” in Canadian

ship’s temporary use in Canada, the certificates relating

waters. The Act defines “coasting trade” as either (a) the

to the foreign ship or non-duty paid ship are valid and in

carriage of goods by ship alone, or by ship and another

force and the foreign ship or non-duty paid ship meets all

mode of transport; (b) the carriage of passengers by ship;

applicable safety and pollution prevention requirements

or (c) engaging in any commercial marine activity by ship.

of Canada.

An application for a coasting trade license must therefore be submitted where the foreign ship or non-duty paid ship will be carrying out any commercial marine activity in Canadian waters. A coasting trade license, once issued, is valid for a maximum period of 12 months which can be extended for a period of up to an additional 12 months upon subsequent re-application.

There are a few specific exceptions where a foreign ship or a non-duty paid ship is not required to carry a coasting trade licence, including when the ship is used as a fishing vessel (as defined by the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act) in any activity governed by the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act, when the ship is engaged in ocean research activity commissioned by the Department

Under the Act, the Minister of Public Safety cannot issue

of Fisheries and Oceans, when the ship is operated by

a coasting trade licence authorizing a foreign ship or a

a foreign government that has received the consent

non-duty paid ship to conduct a commercial activity in

of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to conduct marine

Canadian waters unless the Canadian Transportation

scientific research, when the ship is engaged in salvage

Agency has determined that no suitable Canadian ship

operations, except where such operations are performed in Canadian waters, and when the ship is responding to a marine pollution emergency. Recent amendments to the Act in 2017 also provide exceptions to the carriage of empty containers and private dredging activities if certain narrow conditions are met.

Applicants should submit their application as far in advance as possible to account for potential delays as a result of complicated or contested applications. It is necessary for applicants to comply with the application process and carefully address each criteria under the Act to be successful in their application for a coasting trade licence.

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B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021

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11

FORWARD TOGETHER. Ledcor builds a solid presence in B.C. waters

F

or over 10 years, Ledcor Marine has had a strong presence in British Columbia’s waterways. Ledcor Marine is part of Ledcor’s Resources and Transportation (LRT)

division, which has a long history in the aviation, marine, forestry, and trucking sectors. LRT is committed to providing unwavering safety, leadership, efficient scheduling, and consistent quality in all services when moving goods and people across the Pacific Northwest, Western Canada, and Canada’s northern territories. Working in unison with trucking and forestry operations, Ledcor Marine offers vertically integrated supply chain services to B.C.’s forestry and bio-energy industries.

Ledcor Marine was founded in 2010 and has been expanding yearly with high levels of traffic in the Fraser River, 12

B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021

Georgia Strait, and Howe Sound.

Today, Ledcor Marine is one of the largest marine operations serving natural resources and industrial customers in British Columbia. To date, Ledcor owns and operates nine tugboats and twenty-six barges in the Fraser River and southern B.C. waters. Their fleet includes flat deck, aggregate, fibre/biomass, project and pontoon barges, and coastal tugs.

These vessels can be deployed to any area along the southern B.C. coast in a timely manner.

Ledcor Marine is currently working on a major contract within the Vancouver Harbour with the Trans Mountain Expansion Project. Ledcor Marine currently delivers and stores material used for the construction of the Westridge Marine Terminal. To keep up with the demand of this major project,

four additional barges were purchased

by Ledcor which play a major role in the development of the Westridge Terminal foreshore. Once the expansion of the foreshore is complete, Ledcor has already received interest in using the purchased barges in other waterways throughout British Columbia.

With the marine industry being one of the fastest growing and in-demand trade sectors in British Columbia, Ledcor Marine prides itself in recruiting and retaining the best talent. To keep up with the ever-changing industry, Ledcor Marine has cultivated a strong “promote from within culture”. Entry-level positions are available to those who have a passion for the marine industry with the willingness and readiness to learn and advance. Ledcor Marine is a dynamic team that learns together and supports one another with leadership

that prides itself in the advancement

is one of North America’s most

services. Ledcor is a privately held,

of its people. With a hands-on work

diversified construction companies,

employee-owned company with over

environment and fully paid training

serving the civil & infrastructure, oil

800 employee shareholders. Ledcor

courses, Ledcor supports growth within

& gas, pipeline, building, mining,

employs over 7,000 people across

the marine team and across the entire

power, and telecommunications

20 offices. Since 1947, the company

company.

sectors. Ledcor also owns operations

has been growing with its clients and

in property investment, forestry,

partners: Forward. Together. See how

The Ledcor Group of Companies

aviation, and marine transportation

at www.ledcor.com. Ü

TRUE BLUE

Friends every day is who we are.

Ledcor Marine is hiring | Richmond Masters & Mates Jobs.Ledcor.com/pages/Marine @LedcorCareers

B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021

13

BC Ferries’ battery hybrid electric Island Discovery connecting Powell River and Texada Island on the Sunshine Coast.

PHOTO: RODGER HORT, COURTESY OF BC FERRIES.

BC Ferries Island Class ships – ferries for the future, now

B

y the end of the year, BC Ferries will have achieved a significant milestone: six new battery hybrid electric Island Class ferries will have been built and delivered to BC Ferries. Two ships are already in operation, and have been providing service on the Port McNeill – Sointula – Alert Bay and Powell River – Texada Island routes since mid-2020. The other four have been in various stages of construction and delivery throughout 2021 and will enter service in 2022.

sixth and final Island Class ferry in this

The vessels are built by Damen Shipyards and once complete, they embark on a 10,700 nautical mile journey from the shipyard in Romania to Victoria, British Columbia.

The first two vessels arrived on a semisubmersible, while the others have made the transoceanic journey under their own power. In fact, the

As the ferries make their way across

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B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021

series, temporarily named Island 6, is still mid-voyage.

The Island Class ships have a number of key features that support BC Ferries’ goal to be efficient and environmentally responsible. The vessels are easy to load, extremely quiet, and designed for full electric operation. With the capacity to carry at least 47 vehicles and up to 400 passengers and crew, they will

proof that the Island Class ferries will be able to operate as fully electric vessels once BC Ferries’ terminals have plug-in recharging capabilities.

The vessels are initially delivered with hybrid technology. BC Ferries is seeking funding support from the federal governmental to construct the necessary shore charging infrastructure to allow these vessels to run on battery power alone, relying on B.C.’s abundant, low-cost, clean hydro-electric power for recharging.

allow for fleet redeployments and retirements of existing diesel-fuelled vessels.

the Atlantic, through the Panama Canal, and up the Pacific to B.C., the hybrid systems have been put to the test. Like the Island Class 3, 4 and 5, approximately one-third of Island 6’s journey is expected to be completed by using battery power with the main engines stopped;

BC Ferries is innovative, leading edge, and ready to adapt to changing economic, social, and environmental climates, without compromising safety, efficiency, and reliability. The Island Class ferries represent a major step forward as BC Ferries strives to be one of the most sustainable ferry companies in the world, while providing world-class service to connect communities up and down coastal British Columbia. Ü

NORTH ISLAND COLLEGE

MARINE TRAINING

Learn from experienced mariners

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T: 250-287-3456 • F: 250-287-3442 B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021

15

ZEUS: The first zero emission ultimate ship in the world

By Alessandro Maccari, R&D Director Marine, RINA the Italian Ministry for Economic Development as part of the National Operational Plan. Several Fincantieri Group shipyards and subsidiaries are involved in the project, while CNR (National Research Council of Italy), the Universities of Genoa, Palermo, and Naples, the ENR (National Institution of Italy for Standardization Research and Promotion), and RINA acts as the project’s consultants.

A

mong the possible technologies to decarbonize maritime traffic, carbon-free fuels and fuel cells are considered among the most promising solutions, also offering the advantages of absence of moving mechanical parts and low noise emissions.

ZEUS (Zero Emission Ultimate Ship) is an experimental fuel cell-powered marine vessel being built in Fincantieri shipyard in Castellammare di Stabia.

The vessel, first of its kind in the world, is to be delivered in 2022.

The vessel is designed and built as part of the project Low Environmental Impact Technologies - TECBIA led

by Fincantieri S.p.A., co-funded by

emeryelectric.com

250-383-6961 office@emeryelectric.com

ZEUS is designed to be a floating laboratory to investigate and test the sustainability of fuel cells in full scale. The vessel is 25 metres long, weighing approximiately 170 tonnes, fitted with a diesel-electric power generation system (two diesel generators and two electric motors).

The innovative element is the hybrid configuration, with a 130-kW fuel cell system, powered by approximately 50 kilograms of hydrogen contained in metal hydride (MH) cylinders - a technology already applied on submarines - supplemented by a battery system needed to have a stable load of energy.

The propulsion system works in different configurations: • Using only lithium batteries for a zero-noise navigation range of four hours at four knots per hour;

Full Service Electrical Contractors for Industrial, Commercial & Marine Applications.

16

B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021

• Electric power supplied by PEM fuel cells which can guarantee a zero-

emission navigation range of eight hours at seven and a half knots per hour; • Navigation using diesel generators while batteries are being recharged; • Navigation using diesel generators for transfers with a navigation range of 60 hours at nine knots per hour.

Currently, there are no international regulations for the use of hydrogen as fuel, while the IMO Draft interim guidelines for the safety of ships using fuel cell power installations are awaiting final endorsement by the Maritime Safety Committee.

The applicable provisions for ZEUS were derived from internationally consolidated risk assessment

methodologies, studied and drafted

by RINA and ENR. The primary shortterm goal was to assess the design, and survey the construction of ZEUS, contributing on the preparation of the documentation necessary to obtain the release of the Safety and Navigability Certificate from the Italian Authorities of competence (Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, MIT) so that the prototype can sail in Italian waters for testing purposes.

The medium-term goal is to study the scalability of fuel cell power installations in a distributed network, to generate clean energy and also recover thermal energy from the electrochemical conversion process, for the hotel services on passenger ships.

On October 1, 2021, RINA published its Amendments to Parts A, C, and F of the “Rules for the Classification of Ships” to include Hydrogen fueled ships.

Environmental stewardship and sustainability are main pillars of the RINA strategic plan, to promote a green approach to the marine industry with a strong commitment to energy and emissions reductions, and optimisation of fuel consumption. Therefore, ZEUS is an essential stepping stone toward the validation of technologies and the development of a comprehensive international regulatory framework to remove the barriers to the decarbonization of maritime transport.

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Helping get your decarbonisation strategy shipshape.

RINA Classification and Certification Canada Ltd. E. canada.marine@rina.org T. 604-690-8423 / 514-866-9494 Make it sure, make it simple.

rina.org

B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021

17

Bracewell Marine Group Expert marine craft construction and repair

B

racewell Marine Group provides expert marine craft construction and repair services to all types of vessels, from landing barges to

fishing boats and from tugboats to yachts.

Established in 2000, Bracewell Marine Group is located at Shelter Island Marina & Boatyard, a full-service marina on 20 acres of paved land in Richmond, B.C. Bracewell Marine Group has two lifts (75- and 220-tonne) on site, and can accommodate vessels up to 120 feet in length with a beam up to 29 feet. Bracewell Marine Group also has a machine shop on site, and it can make and repair marine bearings, shafts, and winches, as well as fabricate for any custom work as required.

Three years ago, Bracewell Marine Group anticipated a decrease in the supply of affordable quality

winches and designed a line of their own. Being located on the West Coast of Canada, towing is an essential service for providing goods and services to the area. Winches are devices that wind cable around a drum that can be spooled in and out for the towing of barges, log booms, and other vessels.

Bracewell Marine Group is also a full-service shipyard and newbuild facility for commercial and pleasure vessels. The services are provided to all vessel types including commercial boats, tugs,

Having designed the winches for simplified operation and straightforward maintenance, the goal was to produce a user-friendly product. Bracewell can customize the winches to accommodate the customer’s requirements. For example, the winch can be flush mounted or in a well, the fairlead can be pipe or hoop style and can be modified to accommodate rollers.

Currently, Bracewell Marine Group offers three winch designs, a BMG 1” x 1447’, BMG 1” x 2250’, and BMG 1” x 2400’. All of the winch designs can be customized to customer specifications including colour and mounting options.

ships, fishing vessels, barges, and pleasure vessels. The company constructs new vessels and also assists with boat maintenance and repair welding, government inspections, custom machining, rudder work, stern tubes, dripless seal conversions, rigging, fiberglassing, gel coat, woodwork, electrical, mechanical, underwater services, restorations, sandblasting, paint work (exterior & internal tanks), bottom paint, waxing, polishing, shafting and bearing sales, and all necessary specialty marine products and supplies.

With a full inventory of shafting and cutless bearings, Bracewell Marine Group can supply new shafting, rudder stocks, and bearings. With the aid of the machine shop, they can ensure the proper fit. With the new addition of custom stainless work (handrails/stanchions, brackets, etc.), Bracewell Marine Group is a one-stop shop.

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B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021

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SAFE. RELIABLE. PROFESSIONAL. With the most powerful, state-of-the-art fleet of tugboats on BC’s West Coast and dedicated mariners with best-in-class training, you can count on Seaspan Marine to deliver.

B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021

19

MED Marine launches 120TBP tug built for Kenya Ports Authority us really proud,” says Kemal Bektas, Shipyard Manager from Med Marine’s Eregli Shipyard. “We will continue our efforts to complete the sea trials as soon as possible to deliver the stateof-the-art vessel. We also thank all of our employees and solution partners for their dedication and hard work on this project.”

The RAstar 4200 (MED-A42120) will join the KPA fleet of tugboats and will be available for salvage and harbour operations. Equipped with excellent manoeuvrability and packing a hefty 120 tonnes of bollard pull, the vessel will deliver enhanced ship-handling and coastal towing performances.

The vessel will be constructed and equipped according to SOLAS requirements.

M

ed Marine, the leading Turkish shipbuilder and operator, has successfully launched its brand-new tugboat, RAstar 4200 (MED-A42120).

The tugboat is being built by at its group-owned Eregli Shipyard. The RAstar series, designed by Robert Allan, is a unique class of highperformance ASD tug.

The state-of-the-art vessel (HULL NAME: EREGLI94) will be a vital addition to East Africa’s largest port, 20

B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021

the Port of Mombasa, and is part of the Kenya Ports Authority’s (KPA) modernisation and maintenance program that aims to enhance efficiency and safety at sea. The Port of Mombasa is the gateway to East and Central Africa, and it is one of the busiest ports along the East African coastline. The Port provides direct connectivity to over 80 ports worldwide.

“The launching of our ER94 vessel, which is the longest, widest and deepest tug boat project ever built in our shipyard by now, has made

Med Marine is a leading Turkish shipbuilder and leading tugboat operator. The firm employs Eregli Shipyard, one of the largest shipyards in Turkey to build its state-of-the-art tugboats and Stainless Steel (STST) IMO II type chemical/oil tankers, either for its own operations or clients around the world. The shipyard is constantly being improved with advanced production standards by keeping up with latest health, safety, and environmental regulations. Med Marine has successfully completed the construction and delivery of almost 200 projects, including tugboats, chemical/oil tankers, mooring, and pilot boats. Ü

Ocean Group acquires Samson Tugboats in Vancouver

I

n September, Ocean Group announced the acquisition of Samson Tugboats Inc., a Vancouverbased company specializing in harbour towing in the Vancouver area since 2011. In March 2020, Ocean Group announced that it had been awarded several major contracts in British

Columbia, including one for harbour towing services in the Port of Vancouver with three state-of-the-art tugs.

After more than a year of operations, the company now has four tugs on site to serve its clients. With the acquisition of Samson Tugboats and its two tugs, Ocean Group will now have six harbour tugs in the region, additionally being able to count on the business relationships previously established by the management of Samson Tugboats.

with Samson Tugboats and we intend to focus on the continuity of our activities, in a sustainable development perspective,” says Jacques Tanguay, President and CEO of Ocean Group. “The two harbour tugs will become part of Ocean Group’s fleet and will meet the needs of our clientele in the Vancouver area. This acquisition is in line with our desire to have high quality standards for our clients.”

Tough Props for Tough Jobs Osborne has been building custom propellers for workboats and displacement yachts in North America since 1935. Our wheels are installled on vessels operating up and down the coasts of North and South America from the Amazon to the Saint Lawrence.

This new acquisition reflects Ocean Group’s objectives to continue its expansion on the Canadian West Coast and supports its determination to develop on a global scale. It is an investment in a

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Group’s existing efforts in this region thus enhancing

604.929.8407 22

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B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021

and that has expertise that will complement Ocean Ocean`s local footprint.

To learn more about Ocean Group, visit groupocean.com.

Ü

A CUSTOMIZED APPROACH TO ENSURE SAFE AND SMOOTH HARBOUR TRAFFIC We provide our clients with personalized harbour towing services.

Our expertise enables us to help small- to-very large tonnage ships to safely dock and undock at wharf. We work closely with pilots, port authorities and government organizations to continuously develop the best operational practices to improve the safety, efficiency and reliability of our services.

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23

Increased demand results in record cargo volumes through the Port of Vancouver Prepared by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority mid-year volumes of bulk grain, up 20 per cent to 16.5 MMT compared to mid-year 2020 and up 35 per

T

he Vancouver Fraser Port Authority released its 2021 mid-year statistics for goods moving through the Port of Vancouver. From January 1 to June 30, 2021, overall

cent from 2019. Total foreign tonnage and foreign exports resulted in 60.3 and five per cent above the previous

and 52.0 MMT, up four per cent

record set in 2019. Sectors that

respectively, compared to mid-

experienced strong growth include

year 2020 volumes, due to strong

grain and containers, both of which hit

increases in grain and coal.

new records in 2021.

Increases in wheat, up 23 per cent,

cargo volumes through Canada’s

Strong overseas demand for

barley, up 151 per cent, and animal

largest port reached a record high of

Canadian grain products—a main

feed, up 30 per cent, contributed

76.4 million metric tonnes (MMT), up

driver of the overall record mid-year

to this new bulk grain record.

seven per cent from 2020 mid-year,

cargo volumes—resulted in record

Metallurgical coal increased by 11 per

24

B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021

“ Over many years, we have worked with partners to support the growth of the agricultural sector, and over the last decade there has been a very significant amount of investment in the port and the surrounding gateway by grain terminals, governments, railways, port customers, and the port authority, with much of that investment directly benefitting the grain sector.” cent while thermal coal remained flat.

In fertilizers, potash exports increased by 0.3 per cent from last year and sulphur decreased by 20 per cent.

“Record grain volumes through the Port of Vancouver once again over the first half of the year demonstrate the continued growth in the global demand for Canadian agricultural products,” says Robin Silvester, President and CEO at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. “Over many years, we have worked with partners to support the growth of the agricultural sector, and over the last decade there has been a very significant amount of investment in the port and the surrounding gateway by grain terminals, governments, railways, port customers, and the port authority, with much of that investment directly benefitting the grain sector.”

Project. Construction of the Centerm

and container sectors. This trend is

Expansion Project is well underway

expected to continue as the long-

and once complete it will meet the

term outlook for Canadian trade is

anticipated short-term demands of

growing.

importers and exporters. Even with this increase, the port is forecast to run out of capacity by the mid to late 2020s. If approved, the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project will provide a 50 per cent increase to the port’s container capacity and will serve Canadian importers and exporters for generations to come.

“We are encouraged to see the record mid-year cargo volumes through the Port of Vancouver,” says Silvester. “These cargo volumes were made possible due to the dedicated work and commitment of the port terminal operators, marine carrier customers, railways and drayage companies, labour, governments,

The record overall cargo volumes

and the many service providers

at mid-year in 2021 reflect the

that support the Port of Vancouver’s

continued growth in the agriculture

importers and exporters.” Ü

Container quantities (measured by TEUs or 20-foot equivalents) in the first half of 2021 increased by 24 per cent compared to mid-year 2020 to a record 1.9 million TEUs, and 15 per cent above the previous record set in 2019, as a result of the strengthening economy and continued growth in global demand for Canadian products shipped in containers, and Canadian demand for consumer and manufacturing goods from Asia.

To ensure the Port of Vancouver can meet the increasing demand for container trade, the port authority is advancing two container terminal projects at the Port of Vancouver: the Centerm Expansion Project and the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021

25

Delivering rapid response capabilities

By Lawren Best, Director of Design Development, Robert Allan Ltd.

T

he Cadboro Bay, featured on the cover of this issue, is one of two recently delivered search and rescue vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard,

bringing the number to four Bay Class boats now operating on the B.C.

coast. These fully self-righting, extreme weather lifeboats provide much needed additional rapid response capabilities. While not viewed in the same vein as traditional tugs that safely escort tankers against groundings or collision, these boats and the crews onboard them

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B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021

provide with their emergency towing capabilities the ability to react quickly to smaller vessels in distress and not only save lives, but also vessels to avoid potential subsequent pollution of the environment. As a parallel to the addition of Cadboro Bay itself, everyone is looking for ways to reduce environmental impact while also increasing safety on the B.C. coast. The only fact we truly know today is that it will take contributions, big and small, from everyone involved including governments, companies, and individuals.

We at Robert Allan Ltd. believe that the next five years have the potential to be a transformative time and the start of a surge where nations and shippers are renewing and increasing their pledges to further reduce emissions. Governments, ports, operators and shipping have the ability to fully embrace decarbonization now where the

critical high-power operations of tugs in our ports actually translates into an opportunity, in one vessel, to remove the equivalent emission of thousands of fossil fuelled cars from our roads.

are inherent features in this series

In a large and crucial step, construction has now formally begun on five new innovate tugs for HaiSea Marine (a joint venture of Haisla First Nation and Seaspan Marine) to serve the LNG Canada export terminal under construction in Kitimat. This project provided what was at the time a unique opportunity to truly select the best technology to reduce the environmental impact to suit the operations. The LNG dual fuel approach fit the long-distance escort tug operations in Douglas Channel as it offered reduced carbon emissions while also providing fuel redundancy in an emergency. The complimentary job of berthing and unberthing of LNG carriers in Kitimat truly provides an opportunity to capitalize on the short distance between the tugs’ berth and the terminal and, for the first time in the Americas, utilize tugs that will operate almost exclusively on batteries, importantly charged from B.C.’s already green electric grid.

These new ElectRA series tugs have diesel power for emergency situations and are truly an ideal case of the industry recognizing an opportunity to lead though innovation which is now being applied to other ports.

The rapidly growing momentum first begun by the design of these world leading tugs has now led to the expansion of ElectRA series of battery electric tugs with options available for customized to a wide range of ports and operating profiles.

Future operations will benefit from the reduced underwater noise and improved responsiveness which

deep reductions in emissions, a

of tug designs and meet the core requirements of reduced emissions and improved safety.

Our expectation is that to obtain customized approach will be needed as it was for HaiSea Marine, where the individual operation needs to be evaluated to select the most

appropriate technology that still meets operational requirements.

We currently have active paid development projects also underway for Methanol, Ammonia, and Fuel Cell powered tugs and are keen to see how these develop to the standing of battery electric tugs so we can provide clients the best possible energy carrier options for a rapidly approaching and exciting future. Ü

MARINE PRODUCTS DIVISION

­ ­ Vancouver BC – Montreal QC – Seattle WA – Pennsauken NJ – New Orleans LA

B.C. Tugboat Fall 2021

27

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