In British Columbia’s coastal waters, a quiet revolution is underway. The once-familiar rumble of diesel
engines on workboats and pilot vessels is giving way to the soft whirl of electric motors. A new age of small
electric commercial vessels is dawning, led by visionary local players who see electrification as both a
technological breakthrough and a business opportunity. This editorial explores how Tymac Launch
Services, a storied maritime operator and 3GA Marine Ltd., an innovative naval architecture firm, are
charting a course toward an electrified future for BC’s workboats. It’s a story of tradition meeting innovation and of a bold vision to transform an industry.
A Visionary Operator Steers Toward Electrification
Tymac Launch Services, founded in 1929, has long been an integral part of BC’s marine transport industry.
For over ninety years, Tymac’s fleet of pilot vessels and tugs has serviced the Port of Vancouver and
surrounding waterways, ferrying harbour pilots, shipping agents and officials to and from ships with
reliable efficiency. This diverse marine transportation company built its reputation on adaptability and
customer service. Now, under forward-looking leadership, Tymac is adapting once again – this time to a
carbon-constrained era that demands cleaner, smarter propulsion.
“For us, electrification is the next logical step in a legacy of innovation,” says Steve Hnatko, Vice-
President Operations and Business Development of Tymac Launch Services. “BC has an abundance of
clean hydroelectric power and we believe using that energy to drive our vessels will both cut
operating costs and protect our coastal environment for future generations.”
This conviction has put Tymac at the forefront of efforts to replace fossil-fueled small craft with battery-
electric alternatives. The company views BC Hydro-powered electrification as the path forward, leveraging
the province’s renewable electricity to charge its next-generation boats. Tymac is actively collaborating
with partners and government programs to make electric propulsion a reality in its fleet. It has even
designated its Vancouver Harbour dock as a testbed for the new technology.
Tymac’s commitment is driven by both business and environmental calculus. The operator expects the
electric conversion of small vessels to yield up to an 80% reduction in fuel costs, based on extensive
fleetwide technical studies commissioned by Tymac and funded by BC Hydro. These studies combined a
meta-analysis of over 100 similar vessels with advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling to
simulate hull resistance and accurately determine operational fuel/energy consumptions, providing
robust and industry-specific data. Marine vessels operating in B.C. currently contribute over 1.4 million
metric tons of greenhouse gases annually. Vessel electrification would significantly cut these emissions.
Replacing diesel engines with electric drivetrains means virtually zero tailpipe emissions – an important
contribution to provincial climate action goals. As Hnatko notes, “We’re excited to prove that what’s
good for the planet can also be good for business.”
Innovation at the Helm: 3GA Marine’s Electric Vision
On the technical side of this marine makeover is 3GA Marine Ltd., a British Columbia-based naval
architecture and marine engineering firm leading the charge in electric vessel design. Founded in 2013
with offices in Victoria and Vancouver, 3GA Marine has earned a reputation for innovative solutions in
ferry, tug and workboat design. The company has been at the head of BC’s vessel electrification initiative,
partnering with organizations like BC Hydro on projects aimed at cleaner marine transportation. Earlier this
year, 3GA Marine delivered a fully electric tugboat to Seaforth Environmental — a compact, powerful
vessel that marked a turning point in practical electric propulsion for harbour operations.
Now 3GA Marine is applying its expertise to smaller commercial vessels. The firm is the technical
innovator behind a new, first-of-its-kind electric pilot vessel design, scheduled for construction
completion in 2025–2026 on BC’s coast. Many cutting-edge electric boats rely on hydrofoil technology to
lift the vessel out of the water to achieve long range, however this technology is vulnerable to impact
failure from debris or wildlife. 3GA’s electric pilot vessel has an optimized hull design without foil
technology and manages an impressive 50 km range per charge at cruising speed.
“Our goal was to deliver a practical electric workboat that fits our coastal reality,” explains Daniel
McIntyre, Vice President of 3GA Marine. “We set out to show that with smart design and BC’s clean
energy, even small pilot vessels can run all day on batteries – no foils, no gimmicks, just solid
engineering.”
The result of 3GA’s development is a battery-electric pilot vessel tailored for operators like Tymac. It is
compact but capable, designed to carry up to 12 passengers at typical harbour transit speeds (around 25–
30 knots). With about an hour of endurance, it can comfortably handle the daily routes of urban pilot
vessels and crew boats. Fast-charging technology enables quick turnaround at dock with vessel recharge
to 90% in under 2 hours.
Foil-Assist “Switchblade” – Extending the Range
As groundbreaking as the new pilot vessel is, 3GA Marine is not stopping there. The company is preparing
to launch a foil-assist technology dubbed “Switchblade”. This innovative add-on is designed to address
impact failures of hydrofoils for operations in the debris-laden waters of the Pacific Northwest. The
Switchblade is designed to lift the vessel just below the water’s surface, disengage upon impact and
switch back into position once clear. According to 3GA’s projections, the Switchblade system could more
than double the vessel’s range, pushing it well beyond 100 km on a single charge.
Invented by 3GA Marine and currently in the final design stages, Switchblade is scheduled for commercial
adoption in 2026. “We engineered Switchblade for our coast – it’s about resilience as much as
efficiency,” notes McIntyre. “This could extend an electric vessel’s reach to over 100 kilometers,
which is unprecedented for a boat of this size.”
A Maritime Call to Action
What is needed now is for more industry players to seize the momentum. This is a call to action for
operators and vessel owners across the coast: the technology is here, the business case is solidifying
and the environmental imperative is undeniable. Exploring custom electric vessel solutions is no longer an
indulgence — it’s rapidly becoming a strategic necessity. As “The New Age of Small Electric Commercial
Vessels” unfolds, it carries a slight touch of the visionary: one can imagine a not-so-distant future where
quiet, clean electric boats are the standard in every harbour. 3GA Marine Ltd. stands ready to help tailor
solutions to an operator’s specific needs. That future is being pioneered now.
