Diversified miner Teck Resources will deploy two electric tugboats at its Neptune Terminal, in Vancouver, as it moves to reduce emissions across its supply chain.

This will mark the first-time electric tugs operate in Canada as a full tugboat package for harbour assist and tug services, the company said on Thursday.

SAAM Towage will supply the two ElectRA 2300 SX tugs, starting operations during the second half of next year.

The use of electric tugs will not only eliminate more than 2 400 t/y of greenhouse-gas emissions, but will also reduce underwater noise, benefitting marine life in the harbour.

“Working with SAAM Towage to further reduce the greenhouse-gas emissions associated with transportation of our products is another step forward in achieving our climate goals and contributing to global climate action,” said Teck CEO Jonathan Price.

“Collaborating with transportation providers to develop green transportation corridors is part of our climate action strategy and supports our goal of net zero emissions by 2050.”

The ElectRA tugs are designed by Vancouver-based Robert Allan and will be built at Sanmar Shipyards, in Turkey.

This announcement builds on Teck’s progress to work with partners to reduce emissions across its supply chain and achieve a 40% reduction in shipping emission intensity by 2030.

Teck previously announced an agreement with Oldendorff Carriers to employ energy efficient bulk carriers for shipments of Teck steelmaking coal from the Port of Vancouver, eliminating 45 000 t/y of carbon dioxide.

Teck has also announced a pilot of a fully electric on-highway transport truck to haul copper concentrate between Teck’s Highland Valley Copper Operations in south-central British Columbia and a rail loading facility in Ashcroft.

Teck’s climate action strategy includes goals to reduce carbon intensity across operations by 33% by 2030 and be a net-zero operator by 2050.