By Daniel McIntyre, P.Eng., Vice President, 3GA Marine Ltd.
With Transport Canada approval secured, Seaforth’s new hybrid-electric tug went straight into service—and early operations are showing exactly what careful design intended. On typical booming and unbooming assignments—deploying, tending, and recovering oil-containment boom around tankers during cargo operations—including transits to and from the customer site, the vessel is using roughly 30–35 per cent of its battery per job. Crews plug in between assignments, and the generator has not been required for the work performed to date.
From the wheelhouse, the difference is immediate: instant torque, precise low-speed control, and markedly lower noise and vibration—ideal for slow maneuvers along hulls and around terminal structures while handling boom. From the shoreline, it shows up as zero local emissions whenever the tug operates on battery power—especially valuable at terminal fence lines and in sensitive marine environments. Operationally, the cadence looks familiar: transit to the berth, boom, stand-by/watch, unboom, return to base, quick top-up—now with a charging cable instead of a fuel hose.
The outcome is by design. B.C.-based 3GA Marine engineered the hybrid architecture and controls around real booming duty cycles, right-sizing energy storage and shore-charging so the generator is a contingency—not a crutch. Redundancy, protection, and procedures meet TC requirements, keeping confidence high and operations straightforward for crews.
“This vessel marks the first step in Seaforth’s commitment to becoming a leader in sustainable marine operations on the B.C. coast. Our objective is to operate entirely on clean, renewable electricity from British Columbia, eliminating hundreds of tons of CO₂ emissions annually, while creating a safer and healthier workplace for our crews with quieter operations and far less exposure to exhaust fumes,” says Jon Brown, Seaforth.
While training exercises and customer approvals continue, the operational data already support the case for charge-between-jobs electrification in terminal support work. Crews report crisp maneuverability and reduced fatigue thanks to quieter decks. Maintenance teams anticipate fewer engine hours and simpler service intervals. And with electricity prices more stable than diesel, Seaforth expects more predictable operating costs over the vessel’s life.
Not every tug or route needs the same solution, but many terminal support cycles—especially booming/unbooming—align with battery-forward operations. This hybrid shows that, with the right sizing and straightforward shore power, electrified tugs are practical and productive today—capable of completing routine boom deployments and recoveries without the generator.
Seaforth will continue tracking performance—state-of-charge per job, time-on-plug, seasonal effects, and any occasions when the genset is deployed—to inform fine-tuning and future builds. For now, the takeaway from the water is simple: plug between jobs, keep the genset off, get the work done.
