Arc gets its first major order for electric tugboats worth $160M | TechCrunch

"The company announced Wednesday it has signed a contract of that value with Curtin Maritime, a tug and barge operator. The new hybrid-electric tugs are expected to hit the waters around the Los Angeles port in 2027. Curtin has ordered eight tugs - at around $20 million apiece - and Arc will build them in conjunction with Snow & Co. shipyard."

"Specifically, these are what's known as ship-assist tugboats, which help nudge behemoth cargo ships into and out of major ports like Los Angeles. Arc CEO and co-founder Mitch Lee told TechCrunch these kinds of tugboats are "torque generating machines, which is really cool." But the standard versions are powered by monster diesel engines that "just spew black carbon, [and] spew sulfur oxides" into the air, damaging the surrounding environment and risking the long-term health of the crews who work them."

"Lee said these kinds of tugs are some of the worst-polluting vehicles on the planet by linear foot. By largely replacing the diesel power plants with batteries and electric motors - more on the hybrid system in a moment - Arc can help tugboat operators cut down on that pollution. That puts them in a better position to comply with environmental regulations and improving air quality."

Arc Boats signed a $160 million contract with Curtin Maritime to deliver eight hybrid-electric ship-assist tugboats, slated to operate at the Port of Los Angeles in 2027. Each tug is priced at roughly $20 million and will be built alongside Snow & Co. shipyard. The hybrid design replaces much of the diesel powerplants with batteries and electric motors, cutting emissions of black carbon and sulfur oxides and improving crew health and local air quality. The electric architecture also frees up onboard space and can significantly reduce overall tug-related pollution at the LA port, where only about 20 such vessels operate.

Read at TechCrunch