Electric boat company Arc Boat Company is expanding into the commercial sector with a partnership with West Coast based Diversified Marine.
The partnership will see a 26ft tugboat for use in the Port of Los Angeles retrofitted with electric power.
The Port of Los Angeles is aiming to be at zero-emission by 2030 with the new tugboat a step in that direction.
“At Arc, our mission has always been to electrify the marine industry,” said Mitch Lee, co-founder and CEO of Arc.
“This is not just an environmental initiative — it’s America’s best shot at reclaiming its leadership in maritime technology.
“US shipyard throughput has been declining since WWII, and China now controls nearly half of the global shipbuilding market.
“We must adopt modern technologies to re-establish maritime exceptionalism.
At Arc, our mission has always been to electrify the marine industry.
Mitch Lee
“This partnership is a critical first step towards doing just that.”
By adopting modern powertrains and leveraging software, Arc claims it can re-establish American leadership in maritime and export superior products across the global market.
“Tugboats are a cornerstone of the economy that enable cargo ships to operate at ports,” said Kofi Asante, VP of business development at Arc.
“The short, but high power requirements of a tugboat make it a great fit for electrification which can drive efficiencies at the port.”
Arc’s Los Angeles headquarters is set up to quickly design, build, and integrate modern vessels.
The tugboat is the first project from the new partnership with work on larger vessels set to take place later in 2025.
“As the backbone of port logistics, workboats are a crucial component to the shipping industry. It’s time to bring them into the modern age,” said Frank Manning, president of Diversified Marine.
“With a partner like Arc, we will now be able to set the bar for the future of American ports, and truly show the benefits of what clean maritime technology can achieve.”
Arc is headquartered in Los Angeles.
