Canadian company Atlantic Towing has been awarded a marine operations contract by Cape Sharp Tidal.
The contract awarded to Atlantic Towing requires them to provide specialised marine services including harbour and terminal towage, ocean and coastal towage, barging services and offshore support such as anchor installation, employing up to 28 highly trained people on three Atlantic Towing tugs.
Once they are in position the tugs will be used to move the barge and turbine while crews lower the turbine into the sea bed and connect the cables to the power grid.
The project is a joint venture between Emera and OpenHydro and wants to install a fully grid connected 4MW tidal array in the Bay of Fundy in 2015.
Atlantic Towing vice president Gilles Gagnon said: “We have safely operated in challenging sea conditions like the strong Bay of Fundy currents and tides for more than 50 years. “Working on the Cape Sharp Tidal project is a perfect fit for our local team’s expertise and capability.”
Emera chief executive Chris Huskilson said: “Local economic opportunities like the Atlantic Towing contract reflect our vision to build a local tidal industry, strengthen our communities and keep jobs in our province.
“Teaming up with local companies that have the expertise to safely get the job done is key to our success.”
Image: Bay of Fundy (Province of Nova Scotia)
