Aspen Kemp and Associates, a local engineering firm has designed and developed a propulsion and control system for the worlds first hybrid tugboat.
Chief Operating Officer Neale Kemp says the tug, constructed for Foss Maritime in Seattle, is a major step forward in clean maritime technology and that means a major expansion for the local company.
He says their aim is the retro fit market where other maritime companies will be replacing their old inefficient diesel engines and replace them with the Owen Sound designed green technology.
Kemp says already the hybrid tug , the Carolyn Dorothy has shown remarkable results as far as lower emissions and fuel consumption is concerned and that is good news for the environment and tug companies bottom lines.
He says already the Federal Government has shown interest in the Owen Sound technology and is consider retro fitting some of its science research vessels.
Kemp says in addition a ferry company in Scotland is taking a serious look at the technology with the aim of building an energy efficient car ferry using the Aspen Kemp designed propulsion and control systems.
He says once the ramp up production of the new systems they will be hiring a lot more people and expanding their Prince Edward Island facility to meet the demand.
