Freeport oyster farm charges ahead to electrify operations

Rendering / Courtesy Greater Portland Council of Governments Maine Ocean Farms in Freeport has commissioned development of an electric workboat for its Casco Bay oyster farming operation.

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By Laurie Schreiber

A Freeport aquaculture company, Maine Ocean Farms, said it has commissioned a custom-built electric workboat that would join a growing industry trend to electrify operations.

Fogg’s Boatworks, a North Yarmouth builder of custom-designed welded aluminum alloy boats, will build the 28-foot workboat.

Maine Ocean Farms, established in Casco Bay in 2017, said the deal is funded by a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy plus $500,000 in matching funds.

The addition of the electric workboat and charging infrastructure is expected to cut the operation's carbon footprint and help minimize noise, air and water pollution.

“Maine Ocean Farms strives to continuously innovate our operations, embracing new technologies that can drive positive environmental change while supporting local economic growth,” said Willy Leathers, director of farm operations and a founding partner, “This project will demonstrate these technologies in action, providing data and real-time experience to other farmers and industry members.”

The boat will have an advanced electric powertrain commissioned from marine technology company Vita Power, according to a news release.

Headquartered in Southampton, England, Vita develops and integrates high-performance electric powertrains and vessels for commercial and recreational marine applications. Vita systems integrate the technology with proprietary control software to deliver peak power between 100 horsepower and 600 horsepower.

Aqua superPower, in London, England, has been commissioned to install two DC marine charging stations shoreside.

Pioneering partnership

Aqua superPower is leading the project in partnership with Maine Clean Communities, according to the release.

Maine Clean Communities is a coalition, administered through the Greater Portland Council of Governments, that promotes the use of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies in Maine. As part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities program, Maine Clean Communities collaborates with local stakeholders to advance the use of electric vehicles, biofuels and other clean transportation technologies.

Sara Mills-Knapp, the director of Maine Clean Communities, said the electrification of Maine Ocean Farms' aquaculture operations represents a step forward in reducing emissions and noise pollution in Casco Bay.

“The electrification of Maine Ocean Farms represents more than just a technological upgrade; it’s a pioneering model for the future of aquaculture,” Mills-Knapp said. “This project will demonstrate the viability of electric marine technology for the aquaculture industry. We expect it to serve as a model that can be replicated by other coastal operations, helping to build a more sustainable and resilient marine economy in Maine.”

Scott Canning, Aqua superPower’s vice president of U.S. business development with an office in Los Angeles, said he first heard about Maine Ocean Farms when he learned the oyster farm co-developed a 100% compostable and biodegradable harvest bag to reduce marine plastic pollution.

“It was clear to me that Maine Ocean Farms was an ideal candidate for marine electrification. Department of Energy funding for this project accelerates the transition to zero emissions in the marine sector and marks an important step forward to foster a more resilient and sustainable seafood supply chain,” Canning said.

In 2020, in conjunction with a manufacturer in Austria that specializes in biodegradable and compostable food packaging, Maine Ocean Farms created biodegradable shellfish packaging — made from beechwood cellulose and called the Ocean Harvest Bag — and formed Ocean Farm Supply LLC in Brunswick to distribute the product in the U.S. and Canada.

Other electrification

The Maine Ocean Farms electrification project will also integrate an electric outboard for their company's work skiff and a portable power pack to run processing equipment on its floating work platform.

As part of the project, the team said it would gather real-time data to measure environmental impact and emissions reductions, develop case studies, education materials and host events and demonstrations to share knowledge about the marine electrification with other maritime organizations and Clean Cities coalitions.

The project is in line with other marine electrification projects. In Biddeford, Maine Electric Boat has installed more than a dozen electric propulsion systems on sailboats and powerboats since the company was formed five years ago.

The Island Institute, a Rockland-based nonprofit, has a goal to develop a fully electric working waterfront in Maine, which includes putting electric outboard motors on skiffs through partnerships with local fishermen, aquaculture operations and new waterfront business ventures, and installing solar-powered charging stations on docks and wharves.