Everwind spending $50M on tugboats to support green energy plans

A company hoping to produce green hydrogen in Nova Scotia's Strait of Canso is spending $50 million to modernize its fleet of tugboats.

Everwind Fuels said Thursday it is buying three new tugboats from a company in the Netherlands to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It plans to hire 15 new local employees.

The company currently stores and ships conventional fuels and wastewater at its terminal in Point Tupper and plans to create green hydrogen using wind power and water from nearby Landrie Lake.

David Hart, manager of Point Tupper Marine Services, which is owned by Everwind and is its tug operator, said the boats are needed to escort and help dock large ships. He said buying modern, fuel-efficient ones sends a strong message.

"It creates confidence in our customers that we can say what we do and do what we say and deliver and move those products safely to and from the terminal and in and out of the port."

The tugs are also available to service other users of the port and the locks at the Canso canal.

Everwind spokesperson Claire Parsons said the new tugs will also be adaptable as clean energy becomes available.

'Huge step forward'

"They will be operating on conventional fuel, but we will be working with our Maritime partners to hopefully shift them to electric or green ammonia once we have our renewable energy up and running," she said.

The tugs are expected to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by about 80 per cent and carbon dioxide by 25 per cent compared to the existing ones, which are up to 35 years old.

"This is a huge step forward for green shipping in our region," Parsons said.

Richmond County Warden Lois Landry said investments in local infrastructure are critical, especially in rural areas.

She said Everwind's tugboat purchase is not just about infrastructure. It's also supporting local families.

"They bring long-term, good-paying jobs and ensure that the economic benefits of clean energy and sustainable shipping stay right here in our region," Landry said.

Richmond MLA and Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau said the provincial government is supporting green energy with its green hydrogen action plan and offshore wind road map.

"This is exactly the type of investment we want to see," he said. "It's private investment."

Everwind has received hundreds of millions of dollars in federal loans and other funding, including a $22.5-million Transport Canada grant last fall that was intended to support acquisition of a loading arm to fuel and fill ships at the terminal, to help build a pipeline at the terminal, and to buy new tugboats.

The province has approved three onshore wind projects elsewhere in Nova Scotia to power the company's plans to produce green hydrogen and ammonia.

Everwind recently applied for permission to run an electricity transmission line across the Strait to get green electricity to its site.

Some critics have said the market for green hydrogen is unlikely to ever materialize and the export plan would not be an efficient use of renewable energy.

Boudreau said he understands people's questions, but he said the green energy industry is gaining momentum in Nova Scotia.

"I think a bit of healthy skepticism is always good ... but at the end of the day, when you have companies investing in their operations ... it's a good-news story."

The tugboats are expected to be delivered this summer.

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