Latest NewsShip & Boat BuildingFirst Hull Takes Shape for US Hybrid-Electric Tug Fleet

First Hull Takes Shape for US Hybrid-Electric Tug Fleet

First vessel in eight-tug hybrid-electric fleet enters assembly at Snow & Company

The first hull of a next-generation hybrid-electric ship-assist tug is rapidly taking shape at Snow & Company’s shipyard. This vessel is the first of eight under a $160 million contract announced September 2025 by Arc in partnership with Curtin Maritime, a leading U.S. marine company.

The milestone marks a major step forward in delivering high-performance, low-emissions harbour tugs on an accelerated timeline by pairing Curtin Maritime’s deep operational expertise with Arc’s vertically integrated electric propulsion technology.

The major steel hull modules moved into assembly at Snow & Company. The tug is constructed from 19 individual modules, spanning the hull through the deckhouse, each fabricated separately and then integrated into the full vessel.

Each tug will deliver over 4,000 horsepower and approximately 60 tonnes of bollard pull, powered by a 6-megawatt-hour battery. The vessels are built around Arc’s vertically integrated electric powertrain technology, developed for Arc Sport, Arc Coast, and the truckable tug.

Mitch Lee, Co-founder, CEO at Arc state on LinkedIn.- The first hull for our hybrid-electric tugboat program is rapidly taking shape at Snow, in close partnership with Curtin Maritime. We’re pairing deep industry expertise with superior technology, and delivering both on crazy fast timelines.

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