B.C. Tugboat Spring 2023

TUGBOAT

Leading the charge in sustainable tug design and operation in B.C.

HaiSea partnership offers towing services to LNG carriers

BC Ferries on the path to “net zero”

HYBRID ELECTRIC TUG

Engineering for Operational Cost Savings and a Smaller Carbon Footprint

Seaforth Environmental Service have commissioned 3GA Marine to develop the design of a hybrid electric boom tug to support their oil boom operations.

The design features a 225kw propulsion motor, one 116kW genset, and a 294 kWh energy storage system. The service speed is 4-6 knots, with an estimated top speed of 8 knots. Bollard pull is estimated to be 4.5 MT.

Energy storage is provided via Akasol battery modules, while the propulsion system is provided by Danfoss Editron. Propulsion is provided via a single shaft driven fixed pitch propeller.

•

• Over 15 GT

• Loaded displacement 59.5 MT

• Main propulsion power 1 x 225 kW

• Maximum speed 8 knots est.

• Service speed 4 to 6 knots est.

• Energy storage capacity 294kWh+

• Bollard pull 4.5 MT+ est.

• Genset power 116 kW

• Steel construction

• MDO storage capacity 4.8 m3

• Complement 2

SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE YOUR OPERATING COSTS

Revolutionary marine electrification technology is significantly reducing operating costs and compelling ship owners to modernize their fleets. Strong environmental policies, financial incentives, and lowered expenses create a compelling business case for fleet electrification. 3GA is at the forefront of this transformation, actively electrifying the Pacific West Coast by offering comprehensive design and build services for cutting-edge electric propulsion systems. In most instances, our solutions eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, earn substantial carbon intensity credits, and save ship owners money by utilizing cost-effective electricity supplied by BC Hydro.

3GA Marine can design electric vessels from scratch, or we can utilize Direct Vessel Propulsion Performance Data Acquisition to assess your existing operations and create an electrification feasibility strategy specific to your existing vessel. Funding is available for feasibility studies.

Contact 3GA Marine today for more information!

Construction of the vessel started in March 2023. Once complete, this vessel’s performance will be monitored as part of Canada’s Zero Emissions Propulsion Systems (ZEPS) program. 1575-3777

We

When

> Ready available stock of Samson mainlines, backer lines, and chafe products made with Dyneema®

> Expert consultation to aid in the proper selection and design of your towing system

> Onboard installation, inspection and training in proper handling

Redden-Rope.com

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to the spring 2023 issue of B.C. Tugboat magazine. With its extensive coastline and numerous ports and harbours, B.C. is a hub for activity, including the transportation of raw materials, finished products, and passengers. The tugboat industry plays a vital role in the transportation of goods and people throughout the province and beyond.

In this issue, we are introduced to HaiSea, a partnership between the Haisla Nation and Seaspan, that aims to provide services at LNG Canada’s export facility in Kitimat, B.C. We also learn more about the new fleet of ElectRA 2800 battery electric harbour tugs and RAstar 4000-DF dual fuel LNG-powered escort tugs that are under construction by Robert Allan Ltd. for the LNG operation.

This issue also highlights innovations from Ocean Group and Albion Marine Systems, safety management systems from Trident Navigation, and BC Ferries’ Clean Futures Plan and their path to “net zero”. We also feature a Victoria-based artist who is in the midst of a passion project in which she paints tugboats from around B.C.

The tugboat industry is an essential component of our ecosystem, it is a critical contributor to the province’s economy, supporting jobs and facilitating trade and commerce. We hope you enjoy the spring edition of the B.C. Tugboat and visit us online at bctugboat.com for the latest in industry news and information. See you in the fall. Ü

HaiSea Marine prepares to welcome the world’s greenest tug fleet and the world’s first fully electric tugboat

The world’s first fully electric tugboat will arrive in North Vancouver this spring: the HaiSea Wamis. HaiSea is majority owned by Haisla Nation in partnership with Seaspan, and its fleet will provide ship-assist and escort towing services to LNG carriers calling at LNG Canada’s new export facility in Kitimat, B.C.

The HaiSea team is preparing to celebrate several ‘firsts’ in 2023 starting with the delivery of the world’s first fully electric tugboat. The HaiSea fleet will include three fully electric tugs. The ElectRA 2800 is a new series of battery electric harbour tugs that were specifically designed and customized 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 ElectRA 2800 harbour tugs are 28 metres length, with approximately 70 tonnes bollard pull and approximately 5288 kWh of battery capacity.

Not to be outshined by the electric tugboats, HaiSea’s fleet also includes dual fuel (LNG and diesel) tugboats. The RAstar 4000-DF escort tugs

measure 40 metres in length, and with 100 tonnes of bollard pull, they will be the most powerful escort tugs on the west coast of Canada –and among the world’s most highperformance escort tugs – with the ability to generate indirect forces in escort of approximately 200 tonnes. In addition, the escort tugs feature an exhaust after-treatment system in full compliance with IMO Tier III emissions standards, the most stringent emissions standards for the international marine industry.

HaiSea’s fleet is technologically innovative and represents the future of the marine industry, but it also carries significant connections to the past. All five tugboats were named by the Haisla, Gitxaala, and Gitga’at

Nations and represent their people, cultures, and territories.

Haisla Nation

• HaiSea Wee’git (Raven). Among the traditional peoples of the Canadian west coast, Wee’git was a character of wide repute, who

was well known for getting things done and big things like bringing light into the world.

• HaiSea Wamis. The first settler of Kitamaat who sought sanctuary. Aptly named as it will be the world’s first fully electric tugboat.

• HaiSea Brave. Brave is the name of all the sports teams in Haisla territory and has been emblazoned across Haisla jerseys for decades.

Gitxaala Nation

• HaiSea Warrior. Basketball on the west coast is big and Gitxaala’s basketball team, the Kitkatla Warriors, is a point of pride and allows Gitxaala to keep a strong connection with their waring past.

This name serves to represent every Gitxaala member.

Gitga’at Nation

• HaiSea Kermode. The spirit bear is a traditional representation of the region and territory.

Recently, members of the Haisla Nation joined representatives from Seaspan, HaiSea Marine, and LNG Canada for a naming ceremony at Sanmar Shipyards in Istanbul, Turkiye.

The tugboats were designed locally by Robert Allan Ltd, a Vancouverbased naval architect firm, and are being built by Sanmar Shipyards. The official naming and blessing of the fleet moved the project one step closer to delivering on HaiSea’s promise of providing employment opportunities for the Haisla people and their coastal First Nations neighbours.

To learn more about HaiSea, please visit haiseamarine.com. Ü

F:

E:

Embracing the future in tugboat newbuild contracts

As a rising tide floats all boats, a steadily strengthening array of forces are pushing tugboat and other workboat owners and operators to consider newbuilds that utilize alternative power sources. Those forces include new and more stringent environmental regulations for greenhouse gas emissions, rapidly maturing alternative power technologies, significant federal and provincial government incentives, changing commercial and public expectations, and an aging coastal workboat fleet.

When the time finally comes to commission a new build utilizing battery-electric, LNG, methanol, hydrogen, biodiesel, or another alternative power source, we are seeing that many traditional shipbuilding contract terms require revision or reconsideration.

It is a standard shipbuilding contract term that the new build comply with applicable flag state (Transport Canada) regulations, and with Class requirements if the vessel is to be classed. But with the novel technologies required for an alternative power source, the applicable Transport Canada regulations and Class rules may not yet exist. Moreover, specific

components, such as battery types, fuel storage tanks, or engine models, may not yet have passed required testing and received required approvals such as type approval. In fact, your newbuild might be the test case by which testing and type approvals are achieved and new regulations and rules are developed!

Future new builds will benefit from your pioneering work. But for your new build contract, it will be important to consider how to address and allocate risks for technologies not yet approved and regulations and rules not yet developed, procedures for navigating the path to final approval, and contingencies in the event such final approval is not achieved.

The provisions governing maker’s list, vendor’s list, allowable substitutions, and allowable subcontracting may also require greater consideration than usual, especially for an international build. Novel power technologies are likely to require the fabrication or procurement of specialized and novel components and equipment, such as electrical boards for battery-electric and specialized fuel management and monitoring systems for LNG, hydrogen or methanol. It may be essential to have key novel components fabricated by or procured from

By Jason Hicks, Partner, Bernard LLP

specified suppliers with the requisite knowledge and expertise, and substitutions or subcontracting on such components may present problematic risks for the buyer.

The targets and tolerances for some key performance metrics will likely require reconsideration. Clearly, the fuel consumption target must be restated in the units of the alternative power source. But, given the novelty of the alternative power technology, it is highly likely that neither builder nor buyer will have a good baseline of experience from which such targets and tolerances can be set with any confidence. Accordingly, it may be difficult to obtain or give guaranteed targets at all, or tolerances might have to be set at much wider ranges than is typical for traditional fossil fuel power sources.

On the other hand, the novel technologies may warrant new or different targets and tolerances. Consider, for instance, the merits of setting targets and tolerances for battery-electric charging rates, LNG boil-off gas rates, or gaseous fuel evaporation rates.

Warranties may also require review and revision, including shipyard construction warranties, naval architect and marine engineering design warranties, and third-

party supplier and manufacturing warranties. The risk of warranty claims is potentially higher with novel technology, as there is less history available to guide expectations. The warranty provisions will need to be balanced carefully to ensure sufficient coverage for the buyer, on the one hand, without being unrealistically onerous on the designer, builder, or third-party suppliers, on the other hand.

Another area likely to require greater care and attention than usual is the allocation of intellectual property. In a new build involving novel technologies, the buyer must take care to ensure that it obtains the intellectual property rights essential to operate and maintain the new build throughout its entire life cycle, inclusive of refits, rebuilds, and decommissioning, as well as any subsequent sales to future purchasers. Shipyards and designers, for their part, must take care not to give away IP that may be essential to their future work with the novel technology.

Federal and provincial government incentive programs may offer significant financial incentives to make alternative-power new builds commercially attractive. But both buyers and builders should be mindful that these incentives may come with strings attached that potentially impact the shipbuilding contract terms. Programs may be targeted to vessels of specific attributes, such as of a particular category of gross tonnage, a particular fuel as power source, or a particular category of intended work. Programs may require use of Canadian shipyards or provide additional incentives for Canadian content. The timing and availability of

payments may be impacted by the beginning and ending of government fiscal years. The precise requirements will vary by program.

The arrival of alternative power source technologies in the tugboat and workboat sector promises to have significant and long-term implications. It is important for builders and buyers alike to carefully review

and adapt their shipbuilding contract terms and conditions to properly embrace this development and to minimize the risk of unintended contractual consequences.

Jason Hicks is a solicitor and partner at Bernard LLP in Vancouver, a leading Canadian maritime law firm. He can be reached at 604.661.0600 or hicks@bernardllp.ca. Ü

Ocean Group offers the newest, greenest, and most powerful tugboat fleet in the Port of Vancouver

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Ocean Group is a key provider of integrated marine services in Canada and a leader in the Canadian marine industry. Over the years, it has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to offer the most powerful, state-of-the art and green tugboat fleet. From a fleet of 38 tugboats, nine of them operate throughout the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. Five of these escort-rated tugs were built less than four years ago, providing the latest and safest navigation technology.

One of the greatest features of these new builds is that they are all IMO Tier III. This has a significant impact on air pollution and exhaust sound insulation as they are designed for the crew’s best comfort. Each vessel equipped with an IMO Tier III propulsion system can reduce NOx emissions by up to 90 per cent compared to a Tier II. Ocean Group’s tugboats comply with BV Construction Standards of COMF-NOISE 3 and COMF-VIB 3 regulations. We are currently working with an applied research centre (Innovation Maritime) specialized in the maritime industry and ship’s builder/designer to minimize underwater noise. Ocean Group is proud to participate in the Port of Vancouver’s ECHO program to reduce the impact of underwater noise on whales and is also committed to Green Marine (as founding member since 2008) and the Pacific Salmon Foundation (B.C.).

Ocean Group’s commitment to environmental sustainability goes far beyond the quality of its marine operations. It goes through the quality and rigour of its management systems, as well as through its R&D efforts to improve the performance of its operations and equipment.

Among other things, Ocean Group manages and minimizes its ecological footprint through its real-time energy efficiency management system OpFleet (OpDAQ) and Triton (Damen), which processes and analyzes data relating to engine performance and informs on fuel consumption, emissions, operations profiling, crew behaviour, and more.

Ocean Group is closely working with NationFUEL to pursue the economic benefits of fuel business with Indigenous communities. By choosing renewable fuel sources and supporting local partners, Ocean Group is positioning itself as a leader in sustainable marine solutions.

Ocean Group contributes to the development of a fuel additive with Sinto to increase diesel cetane rating for better combustion at low load and overall engine performance. This fuel additive is used in all of Ocean’s fleet and has reduced consumption and contributed to decreasing significantly GHG emissions per hour of operation over the last seven years.

Ocean Group considers it very important to be involved and proactive in the communities where it provides services. Ocean Group is committed to establishing trusting relationships with First Nations groups that will benefit everyone in the long term. These relationships are based on the values of inclusion, transparency, respect, and responsibility.

Musqueam Indian Band and Ocean Group recently signed a collaborative framework agreement on marine sector opportunities within the Musqueam territory. This includes capacity development initiatives leading to career opportunities for Musqueam community members both on the water and ashore.

Ocean Group, along with the British Columbia Institute of Technology has completed one Bridge Watch Advanced program for Musqueam members with another intake set for later in 2023. Ocean Group is proud to have Musqueam graduates working aboard its harbour/ river fleet safeguarding their waters. In addition, Ocean Group is a proud member of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business.

Through its values and actions, Ocean Group is resolutely committed to sustainable development, environmental protection, and local communities. Ü

B.C. Tugboat Spring 2023

The newest, The greenest, And the most powerful fleet of harbour tugs.

COMPANY PROFILE Trident Navigations

This North Vancouver-based company operates under a safety management system that guides it to achieving safety excellence for its employees and customers.

By Lisa Kopochinski

With 25 years of experience in the marine industry on both shore and on tugs, Alex Edwards founded Trident Navigations Ltd. in 2015 with the purchase of the tug Finlay and has not looked back.

“The timing was right, and I saw an opportunity to fill a gap in the industry,” he recalls. “Since then, the business has grown organically in part by the commitment of the Trident team and their ability to adapt to the daily changes that come with the marine industry.”

Trident Warrior finishing landing an oil barge alongside a deep-sea ship in Vancouver Harbour.

Trident Navigations currently operates a fleet of three tugs, a cargo vessel, ramp and bulk barges, and Trimarine Terminals Ltd., a marine terminal based out of North Vancouver. Its tugs include the Trident Warrior (1500hp), Finlay (1000 hp), Trident Shield (2000hp), and the recently named cargo vessel the Trident Transporter.

“Currently, we have a growing team both ashore and on the water. We service the west coast of Canada, Puget Sound, and Alaska,” says Edwards.

Just over the last two years, the

company has purchased a 2019 built 1,500 hp conventional towing/ assist tug called the Trident Warrior. In July 2022, Trident launched a multipurpose towing ship assist tug called the Trident Shield.

“The Shield’s design was focused on safety, crew comfort, and versatility,” he explains. “With these two new built tugs, we can provide less down time and more environmentally friendly and efficient equipment to our customers.”

Industry Challenges

With all of this experience, it may

look like Edwards and his team are doing this effortlessly. But those in the industry know the challenges that can occur and what needs to be done to successfully overcome them.

“There is an inherent risk to the marine industry and the biggest challenge is the many variables to consider on a day-to-day basis to ensure the safety of our employees,” he explains. “Trident is continually reviewing the safety management system to overcome these challenges and modifying the components to support the safety of our employees.”

In order to operate safely, Trident

“We service the west coast of Canada, Puget Sound and Alaska.”

– Alex Edwards

Navigation Ltd. has implemented the following procedures:

• Transport Canada inspected vessels;

• Safety management system (SMS);

• Safe work practices (SWP);

• Ship security plans (Transport Canada approved);

• Shipboard oil pollution prevention plans (also Transport Canada approved); and

Tugboat Spring 2023

• Oil company inspected vessels (SIRE, TMSA Approved).

“The company is inspected every six months by oil companies that physically attend the vessel to check all aspects of safety equipment, SMS, maintenance, and general operational characteristics of the vessel,” says Edwards.

Trimarine Terminal

Based in North Vancouver to support

the commercial marine supply chain, Trimarine Terminal provides a home base for Trident Navigation Ltd. With 20,000 square feet of warehouse space, it encompasses a water side laydown area and a fixed dock with a highway rated shore ramp.

Edwards adds that over the past two years the company has been acquiring machinery to support the marine transloading capabilities of the facility. “This is a niche site that is not readily available in Vancouver Harbour and is not a deep-sea terminal.”

As

for what the near future holds for the company Edwards says, “Trident will continue to work with customers that have similar safety, quality, and environmentally sustainable ideologies. Our team is committed to these core values both today and as we look toward future endeavors.” Ü

Trident ramp barge GMS622 transporting machinery to complete construction projects on a remote island in the central coast of B.C. Photos: Trident Navigations

Trident Shield on sea trials after launch outside of the Trimarine Terminals Ltd. facility in North Vancouver.

BC Ferries clean futures plan and the path to “net zero”

BCFerries removed the equivalent of nearly 3,000 cars from the road last year and did so without altering a single sailing or the customer experience. The key to the company’s success is in the 2022 BC Ferries Clean Futures Plan.

Ninety-eight per cent of BC Ferries’ greenhouse gas emissions comes from the combustion of fuels by vessels. To reduce that footprint the company needs to move customers in a more environmentally positive manner.

Tugboat Spring 2023

“Normally we run our fleet on ultralow sulphur diesel that contains at least five per cent biodiesel (B5),” says Frank Camaraire, Director, Climate Change Policy for BC Ferries. “But we wanted to advance our goal to meet emissions targets and embrace our environmental responsibility.”

The most high-profile examples in the evolution of ferry travel are the battery-electric Island Class ferries, along with the LNG Spirit, and Salish Class ships. Less visible are the Queen of Oak Bay and Queen of Surrey. The 42-year old Queen of Oak Bay has a secret ingredient making it more

environmentally friendly – 20 per cent biodiesel (B20).

Biodiesel is made from vegetable oils or animal fats and can be used in existing diesel engines. When the time came for BC Ferries to renew its fuel agreement with Parkland Corporation, the company offered the innovative, new fuel mixture.

“We started the transition in October 2021,” says Babak Motamedi, Captain of the Queen of Oak Bay.

“I’m pleased to report that during this time my colleagues and I have not seen any difference in operation of the machineries and propulsion

Island Discovery.

system with regards to ship’s speed and maneuvering characteristics.”

While the B20 conversion was taking place on the Queen of Oak Bay, the Queen of Surrey was undergoing a similar trial using renewable diesel. It comes from a similar feedstock as biodiesel but undergoes a different process.

The two trials have eliminated 13,200 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from October 2021 through June 2022, with far more ambitious goals on the horizon.

“We are preparing to transition many of our Metro Vancouver-based vessels that currently use ultra-low sulphur diesel with B5 to ultra-low sulphur diesel with B20 over the next year while exploring opportunities to increase the biodiesel content all the way up to 100 per cent (or B100),” says Camaraire.

The 2030 target for BC Ferries is to reduce the company’s 2008 greenhouse gas emissions by at least 27 per cent while addressing the demands of a growing population calling for increased service.

”There is no lack of ambition to meet our goal; it’s about how we get there,” says Camaraire. “By applying innovation and technical solutions we are creating the momentum that sails

us to a net zero horizon.”

For more info on BC Ferries Clean Futures Plan visit: https://www.bcferries.

com/in-the-community/environmentalsustainability. Ü

HARKEN TOWING CO. LTD.

• Canadian-owned and operated, professional-grade marine towing service in the Pacific Northwest for over 70 years.

• Bonded for cross-border towing in the U.S.A.

SAFE CERTIFIED EFFICIENT MARINE TOWING

Dedicated and experienced marine employees with decades of knowledge.

WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED

Our fleet of 500hp-to-1800hp tugs is available to meet your marine towing needs throughout the Pacific Northwest. SERVICES

Queen of Oak Bay.

Queen of Surrey.

A TRUSTED ENGINEERING PARTNER Albion Marine Solutions

Albion Marine Solutions, an ISO 9001-2015 certified company, possesses the experience and competent in-house design/engineering capability with experience in new build, design, retrofit, and conversion. Albion Marine Solutions uniquely combines operational experience, engineering knowledge, and project management expertise. We ensure a well-organized and planned engineering process, from site survey and 3D scanning to feasibility study, concept, basic and detail engineering, and installation, life cycle and after sales support. The head office of Albion Marine Solutions is in Delta, B.C., and the design and engineering team is located in Chennai, India. Other corporate offices are in China and Singapore, with support offices located worldwide, including sales and service stations.

For B.C. tugboat owners, Albion Marine Solutions offers a turnkey solution for their tugboats. The Albion Tugboat package starts with the design phase, where Albion Marine will first carry out the feasibility study, designs (which will include a basic + detail engineering package). After the designs are approved, Albion will choose the yard and provide supervision in the construction of the tugboat and assistance with class regulation requirements. Finally, Albion Marine will arrange the delivery from the shipyard to the final client destination with warranty and after-sales support.

Turnkey Project Management Tugboat Solutions

Expert

• Market research, feasibility study, equipment selection

• Site survey and 3D scan.

B.C. Tugboat Spring 2023

• Concept design and basic design

• Detailed engineering and class approval specs

• Logistic procurement

• Prefabrication & installation

• Yard supervision

• Operating procedure, crew training, and after-sales support

Albion Marine Solutions is an industry leader in marine innovation and technology. Albion has designed and developed versatile tugboats that offer exceptional hydrodynamic performance, following a rigorous engineering process marked by high overall efficiency, maneuvering capability, reliability, and advanced system integration. It’s been a long time since Albion Marine Solutions completed the feasibility study of tug electrification. They have assisted many tugboat owners convert their tugs to the electric propulsion system. The optimum battery size is recommended to the tugboat

owner after analyzing the operational profiles of tugboats. Albion Marine Tugs can make use of a hybrid propulsion system with batteries. Electrification of tugboats will help tugboat owners drop operating costs and reduce maintenance expenses and downtime while enabling uninterrupted operation.

Albion Marine Solutions has a team of experienced marine, structural, piping, and electrical engineers, project managers, and procurement. The Technical Services team can design vessels/ships and tugboats from scratch up to the production drawing and drydocking specifications. Till now, Albion Marine Solutions has completed 1200+ 3D scanning projects and 2000+ engineering projects worldwide, including ballast water treatment turnkey and air emissions, carbon capture projects including retrofits, automation & control systems repair, troubleshooting, environmental compliance projects, government projects, etc. For more information, contact Albion Marine Solutions at info@albionmarine.com. Ü

Greaseless propeller shaft and rudder bearings

Most vessels use the traditional cutlass bearing design for their propeller shaft bearings and rudder

bearings. This is the way that it has always been done. With the cutlassstyle bearings on the propeller shaft and the rudder, you have routine

service checks. You have to ensure that the bearing has the proper grease applied. It is one additional item that has to be added to the service checklist of the vessel.

MARINE PRODUCTS DIVISION

Believe it or not, you now have more options with both propeller shaft bearings and rudder bearings. Thordon Bearings is the leader in greaseless style bearings. You read that correctly! You no longer need to apply grease to your propeller shaft bearing or your rudder bearing. It utilizes seawater for lubrication.

Thordon bearings features:

• Zero pollution risk (no grease required)

• Lifetime Wear Life Guarantee for COMPAC in bluewater operation

• Turnkey engineering and installation support

• Easy fitting

• Reduced seal maintenance costs

• Inspections without shaft withdrawal

• Resistance to shock and edge loading

• Survivability (our non-catastrophic failure mode allows the ship to get to port)

• Global availability

A lifespan of 10-15 years

These bearings are everything you could envision and more. In addition to the time savings of not having to service them, the Thordon greaseless

Tugboat Spring 2023

rudder bearings and propeller shaft bearings have a longer life cycle than the traditional cutlass bearings. When appropriately sized, we typically see the greaseless bearings last between 2-5 times longer than the traditional cutlass bearings. We routinely see vessels replacing their traditional cutlass bearings every 6-12 months.

That is not uncommon and obviously is quite an expense every time a new bearing is needed. With the Thordon greaseless bearings, we typically see a life span of 10-15 years.

Quick Installation

Thordon greaseless bearings are incredibly quick and simple to install.

In most cases, it takes 30 minutes or less to install these bearings in both the propeller shaft bearings and rudder bearings.

Cost Savings

We don’t need to do the math for you, but the increased life span of these greaseless bearings will absolutely add up to cost savings over the lifetime of the bearings. The initial cost of the Thordon greaseless bearings is very comparable to the traditional cutlass style bearings, which makes the switch over to the new greaseless style bearing even that much more of a compelling case.

Contact Palmer Johnson Power Systems in Vancouver today to learn more. Ü

Tugboat Spring 2023

ModCom® 3 Series

The next generation of marine-rated LED floodlights

Phoenix Lighting has continued its focus on corrosion resistant and maintenance free above-deck lighting for the maritime industry and has unveiled their ModCom 3 Series.

The ModCom 3 family of floodlights provides more light for less cost with powerful, efficient illumination. The ModCom 3 is offered in three sizes, LO, HI, and MAX, emitting 15,000, 30,000, and 52,500 lumens, respectively. The three sizes allow for use in all waterline perimeter, above-deck, dredging, flanking, portal crane, and hazardous applications on both inland and ocean vessels.

Operator and shipyard feedback guided Phoenix’s engineering process for the third generation ModCom. Its robust construction features a cast aluminum housing and powder-coated steel mounting bracket for maximum corrosion resistance. The fixtures are IP67, UL1598A, ABS certified, and passed rigorous testing to survive extreme corrosion, vibration, and hazardous conditions. A variety of mounting brackets allow for it to be easily installed, regardless of the existing fixture or mounting.

A key innovation of the ModCom 3 is a patented “noglare” optic option that eliminates glare to captain, crew,

and passing vessels. It also is offered with a variety of optic options including wide flood, medium flood, and spot, making it the fixture ideal for any vessel type.

Improved heat dissipation allows the floodlights to be rated for high temperature applications up to 60 OC and an optional Amber model improves visibility in high fog/dirt conditions. The ModCom 3 is designed, engineered, and manufactured in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA and available from Phoenix’s nationwide network of marine distributors.

For more information on the ModCom 3 Series, please visit www.phoenixlighting.com. Ü

Record cruise ship visits expected in 2023

Provided by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority

The first cruise ship of the season—the Sapphire Princess—arrived in Vancouver in April, officially starting what could be a record season for the industry locally. A total of 331 cruise ships visits are scheduled for the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver between April 12 and October 24, an increase of approximately 8 per cent compared to 2022.

“Vancouver continues to be one of the world’s top cruise destinations and an award-winning homeport,” says Mandy Chan, Manager of Cruise Services at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. “After a two-year pause and an incredible restart in 2022, we are now gearing up for another big season for the Vancouver cruise sector as well as the local hospitality and tourism industries it supports.”

A record 1.2 to 1.3 million passengers could travel through the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver in 2023—an increase of about 10 per cent over the record set in 2019 of 1.1 million. The port authority continues to focus on enhancing the passenger experience and this year will become the first homeport cruise terminal in Canada to offer pet relief stations for service animals. Created as part of a larger plan to improve the terminal’s overall accessibility, these stations offer a welcoming area for service animals during their visit to the Port of Vancouver’s cruise terminal.

“As we prepare for another big season, I want to acknowledge the hard work of everyone who made Vancouver’s return to cruise such a success last year as well as recognize the planning and preparation that has gone into this year,” says Chan. “The Port of Vancouver’s

cruise comeback story is a testament to the exceptional work and dedication that industry has led to adapt and renew the sector. I’d like to thank our cruise lines partners, the Canada Place cruise terminal services provider Ceres Terminals Canada, the Cruise Lines International Association, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, and everyone working throughout the cruise and tourism industries for their part in the safe and successful return of a treasured industry.”

Vancouver has been a homeport for Alaska cruises for more than 30 years, acting as the home base for one-way and round-trip cruises through the Inside Passage. As a homeport destination, the Vancouver cruise industry injects an average of almost $3 million into the local economy for each ship that visits Canada Place, generates nearly 7,000 jobs across Canada, $300 million in wages and contributes $840 million to national GDP.

Highlights for 2023 cruise season

• The first ship of the season, the Sapphire Princess, arrived at the Canada Place cruise terminal east berth on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. The last cruise ship of the season, the Koningsdam, will depart Canada Place on Tuesday, October 24.

• The following six ships will visit Canada Place for the first time in 2023: Brilliance of the Seas, Silver Whisper, Hanseatic Nature, Fridtjof Nansen, Seabourn Venture and Scenic Eclipse II

• Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver welcomes the return of Holland America, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Cunard Line, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Seabourn,

Regent Seven Seas, Windstar, Viking Cruises, Victory Cruise Lines, Hurtigruten, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Oceania Cruises

• In 2022, nearly 70 per cent of cruise calls were shore power enabled, compared to 50 per cent in 2019. Demand for shore power has steadily increased since 2009, when the Port of Vancouver became the first port in Canada and the third in the world to introduce shore power for cruise ships. The technology enables ships to shut down their diesel-powered auxiliary engines and plug into land-based electrical power. Shore power at the Port of Vancouver has helped reduce port-related greenhouse gas emissions by more than 25,000 tonnes since 2009.

• Cruise returned to the Port of Vancouver on April 10, 2022, with the inaugural visit of the Holland America Line ship Koningsdam, following a two-year pause due to pandemic restrictions. There were 307 cruise ship visits and 810,090 passengers last year. Ü

Barge Newbuild Tug Newbuild

Ship Repair Support Transport

photo credit Ralmax photo credit Ben Beierle photo credit Capilano photo credit Capilano

Our home sweet home

B.C. is the perfect environment for leadership in sustainable tug design and operation

By Robert Allan Ltd.

There’s no place quite like home. Beautiful British Columbia. Our province, and especially our coasts are truly some of the most beautiful places on earth. It is a place we are incredibly fortunate to live, work, and play in.

As much as the business has become a beacon in the international world of tugboat design, B.C. is where it all began for us and where home remains. There’s a special feeling that takes over when spotting one of our tug designs at work in our local waters. It’s a feeling that goes beyond the satisfaction or even pride associated with seeing the fruits of one’s work in action with one’s own eyes. With such an amazing backdrop, it’s hard not to pause in admiration at the full scene, be it a coastal tug and its tow calmly transiting through some of our breathtaking island-dotted waters, or a newer generation ship-assist tug on its way home after a job in Vancouver harbour.

We love our home and cherish the beauty of its natural environment, but things need to change if we are to preserve those gorgeous snow-capped backdrops for future generations, not to mention the sustainability of what lives in our pristine waters and along our coasts. It’s easy to stay the course. Change can be uncomfortable. But change can also be very good when it’s done right, and leaders must emerge to drive that positive change. Someone must get the snowball rolling. Should it be any surprise then that B.C., where there is so much passion for our natural environment, is home to several companies who are leading the charge in the decarbonization of the world’s tugboat industry?

HaiSea Marine’s new fleet of ElectRA 2800 battery electric harbour tugs, and RAstar 4000-DF dual fuel LNG-powered escort tugs for the LNG Canada operation in Kitimat was difficult news to keep under wraps for as long as it was. The longest escort route in the world, ten thousand tonnes of carbon emissions potentially saved per year, the first tugs in the world to receive ABS’ prestigious ENVIRO+ notation, and a quieter underwater noise profile are all newsworthy stories to broadcast to the world, which has very much since taken notice. Having recently been named at a ceremony at Sanmar Shipyards in Turkey, HaiSea Wamis, Wee’git, Brave, Warrior, and Kermode will soon begin their delivery voyage to B.C. and will establish HaiSea Marine’s as the most environmentally friendly tug fleet in the world.

Further south in Vancouver, SAAM Towage Canada has two ElectRA 2300 battery electric tugs under construction, also at Sanmar. Deliberately smaller to enable them to seamlessly work between the Port of Vancouver’s finger piers, they deliver equally powerful bollard pull in a compact tug frame, with a battery capacity tuned to the operation and will be recharged from clean hydroelectric power at dock between jobs. With extremely impressive environmental credentials of their own, including the ability to operate in zero-emissions mode with a significantly reduced underwater noise profile, these tugs will leave no doubt that decarbonization is viable in major ports worldwide and that the time to act can be now.

Five battery electric tugs and two of the most powerful escort tugs in the world are about to begin their voyage to our waters. There is no comparison in the world in terms of numbers or capabilities, and these tugs will affirm B.C. as the world’s epicentre of low-emissions tugboat design and

operation. We are incredibly proud to be at the leading edge of sustainable vessel design through technological progress for the benefit our cherished local environment. We are also tremendously grateful for the privilege of working with some of the world’s most visionary tug operators and highest quality shipyards in making shared dreams of a more sustainable tugboat industry into a local reality, and one which we are starting to see emulated by many others abroad. We all win from the positive change that will bring, and B.C.’s marine industry will be both an inspiration and a valued resource for all.

The most environmentally friendly tugs in the world in harmony with British Columbia’s precious environment and stunning backdrops shall almost certainly cause us to pause in admiration, but that feeling of pride is admittedly never fully satisfying; and now more than ever the important work is just beginning. In the meantime, we’ll settle for the satisfaction of knowing transformational positive change is already underway in our local waters. Ü

A proud shipyard history

Point Hope Maritime celebrates 150 years of maritime industry on Victoria’s upper harbour this year. First established in 1873, it’s strategic location on the west shore of the harbour was ideal for shipbuilding due to the deep, protected waters, and access to a supply of timber.

A century and a half later, the Point Hope Maritime is a vibrant full-service shipyard with two locations in Victoria B.C. specializing in repair, conversion, refit, and maintenance activities for vessels up to 360 metres.

On any given day, as many as 300 people are working on the Harbour Road site, including 175 permanent employees and an abundance of local sub-contractors.

In 1873, the shipyard that would one day become Point Hope was known as Colling and Cook’s Ways. By 1888, the shipyard was called Clark and Turpel’s Shipyard. While the business

went through several other name changes over the next 40 years, William Turpel and later his sons, Samuel and Emmerson, continued to own the business.

The shipyard was leased by the Foundation Company in 1917, which built 24 steam-powered wooden cargo freighters that were up to 91 metres long. Eleven years later, the Turpel family sold to Captain W.E. Gardner, who in turn sold it in 1938 to two local tug companies: Island Tug and Barge Limited and Victoria Tug Company. The yard was renamed Point Hope Shipyards Limited.

Changes in another B.C. shipbuilding and repair company brought a change in ownership for Point Hope in 1969, when Genstar Ltd. bought Island Tug and Barge and merged it the following year with another Genstarowned marine business, Vancouver Tug. Jointly owned by Genstar and the Dillingham Corporation, the new company was named Seaspan.

After 16 years of overseeing operations at Point Hope, Seaspan opted in 1986 to move the work it was doing at Point Hope to Vancouver. At that point, 30 of the company’s Victoria employees decided to resign from Seaspan and buy the Point Hope shipyard. Each invested $5,000 in their new business venture.

B.C. shipbuilding then fell on hard times. Reasons ranged from shifting political priorities to aging infrastructure, skilled worker shortage, competition from governmentowned shipyards, and a period of public perception that the marine industry was “dirty” and ought to be eradicated. Shipyard owners stopped investing in their businesses.

The employees-turned-entrepreneurs kept Point Hope operating into the mid-1990s, but by 1996 the business was in bankruptcy protection.

Two years later, a group of four local men brought together by John Sanderson, a former engineer and

Point Hope Maritime present day.

commercial fisherman, bought Point Hope out of bankruptcy. A few good years followed for the shipyard, but by 2003, it was bankrupt a second time.

A new chapter for the shipyard came in the form of Ian Maxwell, a Victoria industrialist and owner of the Ralmax Group of Companies. Maxell bought Point Hope out of bankruptcy in 2003 at the encouragement of the local municipal government.

Fuelled by Maxwell’s dedication to industrial lands and jobs, the shipyard entered a new era. Maxwell shut the shipyard down and undertook a three-year, $20-million facility-wide upgrade, phase one of a three phase modernization and business expansion plan that rolled out over

the next decade. By 2008, only six of the 16 shipyards that once dotted the harbours of Victoria and Vancouver were still standing, and Point Hope was one of them. With its new marine turntable, expanded marine railway, and its deep-water berths, Point Hope was thriving.

In 2014, Point Hope purchased the shipyard land from the B.C. government as part of a land swap with the City of Victoria. The purchase secured Point Hope’s future as a shipyard and was a catalyst for further investment.

In 2019, Point Hope acquired the Esquimalt Dry Dock Company (EDC) giving Point Hope access to new

business opportunities at the federally owned Esquimalt Graving Dock. With the asset purchase came new employees contributing new skill sets to the growing team at Point Hope.

Today, Point Hope Maritime is a bustling full-service shipyard with two locations. The shipyard’s Harbour Road facilities offer plate burning and metals supply, a 12-tonne marine railway system, machining & metal fabrication shops, dry-berth transfer, and several specialized workshops.

Point Hope Maritime is marking its 150 years history on the west shore of Victoria’s upper harbour with a community open house on Sunday, June 18. Everyone is welcome! Ü

Point Hope Maritime is a full service shipyard with two locations 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

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

MV Cy Peck. Ship in marine railway at Point Hope shipyard converting to a Gulf Island ferry.

Foundation Company of B.C. Shipbuilders. Point Hope yard #2 Shows a hull being built for Imperial Munitions Board.

Berens tug in for repair at Point Hope, 1940. Photo courtesy of Maritime Museum of BC.

Inspiration by the sea

Local artist captures the tugboats of British Columbia

Alove for the sea, boats, and painting. What started as a small side endeavour to focus on during COVID, has turned into a fullscale, years-long passion project for artist Christina Morrison.

Morrison, an artist from Victoria, B.C., began The West Coast Tugboat Project in 2020 as a way to combine her love of painting with the ocean. Mariners and marine photographers from around the province have been sending her photos of their tugs which she then transforms into bold and vibrant paintings. All she needs is a good photo.

“This little idea basically hit right when COVID did and it has kept me so busy,” says Morrison. “I really wanted to capture what’s happening on our coast now, but I’ve had so many people come forward and request certain historical tugs be painted also.”

Morrison, who grew up on the shores of Sooke, says she always found inspiration in the ocean, along with its boats and harbours. She would spend her family vacations at the oceanside in Qualicum Beach and loved

watching the boats cruise past. She began painting murals and small paintings for friends and family in the mid 2000s, and she painted her first boat in 2014; the North Isle, a B.C. heritage fish boat.

“My true passions are tugs, old wooden and working boats of the West Coast,” says Morrison. “Tugboats are a vital part of our communities especially living on an Island, and I love the stories and histories of the boats and the memories that my art inspires in people.”

Working full time for a major marine logistics company, Morrison paints in her free time. She has completed

60 paintings in the last year and a half and estimates that with her current roster, now at 560 requests, it may her take her another 15 years of painting to complete. She also has a list of decommissioned tugs that are no longer afloat that she would like to paint as she believes their histories deserve to be captured.

Morrison’s works have been displayed in art galleries, markets, and events around Vancouver Island, and she still accepts a few commissions each year. Her hope is to one day publish a coffee table book that compiles all her works along with the original story behind each piece, and she would like see her paintings become a part of B.C.’s maritime history.

“I have been so overwhelmed with the response I’ve received from mariners,” she says. “It has filled my spare time and my heart to make these paintings.”

To learn more about Christina Morrison and her passion project, the West Coast Tugboat Project, visit christintamorrisonart.com. Ü