AltaSea to be Home to Nation’s First-Ever Electric Truckable Tugboat

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (May 14, 2025) – Arc Boat Company, a startup manufacturing high-performance, fully electric boats, today announced the launch of its new R&D facility at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, the nation’s leading destination for the blue economy. The move marks a significant expansion of Arc’s commercial operations and accelerates the maritime industry’s transition to high-performance, zero-emission electric workboats.

Located within AltaSea’s 35-acre waterfront campus, the new facility will support prototype development, on-water testing, and fleet deployment for Arc’s growing lineup of electrically-propelled commercial vessels. It will also house one of the first dedicated electric tugboat charging hubs in the United States, addressing a critical need for infrastructure to support maritime electrification.

With diesel tugboats emitting over 50 times more pollution than a semitruck, and current fleets aging rapidly, the U.S. has heavily invested in maritime innovation. Supported by new federal incentives, including a dedicated White House office for shipbuilding and tax breaks for domestic shipyards, Arc’s work at AltaSea is poised to help America reclaim its leadership in maritime technology. Arc’s domestically built electric vessels leverage cutting-edge powertrains, manufacturing techniques, and software to outmatch diesel in performance and cost.

This announcement comes just weeks after Arc announced its entrance into the commercial sector. In partnership with a West Coast shipyard, Diversified Marine, Inc., Arc will retrofit a 26-foot tugboat for use in the Port of Los Angeles.

“We’re leading the charge to modernize workboats in the nation’s busiest port,” says Mitch Lee, Arc’s co-founder and CEO. “That starts with providing critical charging infrastructure for operators, allowing them to go all-in on more capable and cost-effective fleets.”

Founded in 2021 by former aerospace and automotive engineers, Arc is transforming the future of boating with high-performance, fully electric boats. The company’s flagship      model, the 23-foot Arc Sport wake boat, set a new standard for recreational boating with its zero-emission powertrain and advanced software integration. Arc is now revolutionizing commercial maritime with electric workboats, including the U.S.’s first 26-foot truckable tug, cutting fuel and maintenance costs by over 50% compared to diesel tugs while meeting tough decarbonization goals.

The Port of Los Angeles, the busiest in the Western Hemisphere, serves as an ideal proving ground for the next generation of vessels – cleaner, more economical, and more capable, especially as the Port races to meet its goal of 100% zero-emission cargo handling by 2030. AltaSea’s collaborative ecosystem of clean tech pioneers, research institutions, and maritime leaders is a natural fit for Arc’s expansion into commercial vessels.

“Decarbonization at our ports is a critical step to achieving real, substantive climate progress,” said AltaSea President and CEO Terry Tamminen. “We are excited to welcome Arc to our campus. Their boats and charging infrastructure will help make the Port of Los Angeles a global model for sustainable maritime operations.”