Membertou First Nation, in partnership with three Canadian firms, began working on the zero-emission vessel in December 2023

Sydney, Nova Scotia is the province’s northernmost port, situated on the rocky shores of eastern Cape Breton Island.

Its harbour buzzes with marine activity: small boats mix with the daily ferry to and from Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland; visiting cruise ships drop in; and, of course, in the local lobster season, countless fishing vessels traffic the docks and surrounding waters.

Nova Scotia’s lobster fishery brings more than $1 billion each year. (Nearly 40 per cent of that is caught off Cape Breton.) With all that activity, the provincial industry generates 82 million kilograms of CO2 emissions annually — roughly equivalent to 20,000 cars driven for one year.

The Membertou First Nation, located in Sydney, operates a licensed licensed fishery.

Now, it is on the cusp of a technology breakthrough.

The First Nation is leading the development and build-out of an all-electric lobster fishing vessel, Lektrike’l Walipotl.

“An electric lobster vessel is the natural next step in our drive toward becoming leaders in the production and use of renewable electricity,” says Terry Paul, chief and CEO of Membertou, in a press release.

“We see the adoption of battery-electric technology in the lobster fishery as an important step in developing a sustainable fishery that will provide benefits for future generations.”

Membertou partnered with Allswater, ship designers in Bedford, N.S.; Halifax-based vessel-to-grid company, BlueGrid Energy; and Oceans North Conservation Society in Ottawa to develop the electric lobster fishing vessel.

Electric lobster vessel part of a larger plan

Membertou hopes to have a net-zero fisheries operation by 2025. Electrifying its fishing vessels is an important step in that process, but the benefits extend far beyond the boats.

Thanks to BlueGrid, Lektrike’l Walipotl will have bi-directional charging capabilities.

“[I am] excited about the potential for bi-directional charging to both improve the local electricity grid and provide financial benefits for fishers,” says BlueGrid CEO, Andrew Boswell.

“When the boat isn’t in use and electricity needs are high, power stored in the batteries can be fed into the grid. Bi-directional charging provides ongoing financial incentives for vessel owners that helps offset the higher upfront capital costs for battery-powered vessels.”

As well, notes Paul, “This first vessel will show fishers what’s possible and improve the work environment onboard by eliminating diesel pollution and reducing noise.”

An example to follow

Canada’s marine industry has been taking tentative steps to electrify in recent years. Ferry fleets with their short runs and frequent recharging opportunities account for nearly all the successes so far.

Membertou’s lobster fishing vessel is one of the earliest open-water vessel electrification projects.

Membertou and its partners are confident it will be a success. Seventy per cent of Membertou’s current inshore fleet travels within 20 kilometres of shore. The boats also return to the harbour each day.

The thinking is the majority of the vessels could transition to electric without affecting operations.

“The project … sends a signal to the broader industry in Atlantic Canada: Electric vessels work, and they are ready now,” says Allswater CEO, Rob Crutcher, a naval architect.

“Battery-electric technology isn’t new to boats; it’s already being used around the world. The only missing piece in Atlantic Canada was understanding the needs of local fishers and designing a boat that could meet those needs. Once the industry sees that it works, the future fleet picture becomes clearer for everyone.”

Lektrike’l Walipotl is expected to begin testing and prepare for deployment this year.