Splash! The Ship Hector Relaunches (Electrified)

On July 12th, 2025, a crowd packed the Pictou waterfront to witness a rare and remarkable sight — the traditional side launch of a tall ship.

The Ship Hector, a replica of the vessel that carried the first Scottish settlers to Nova Scotia in 1773, hit the water once again after months of hard work, restoration, and some modern upgrades. 

We were lucky enough to be there for the launch. And while Allswater’s role was behind the scenes  it felt pretty special to stand on shore and watch the ship float free. 

This isn’t your typical retrofit. The challenge of blending a clean, quiet electric motor into a ship that’s supposed to look and feel like the 18th century. The result? The Ship Hector will become Canada’s largest fully rigged, electric-powered passenger vessel — and you’d never know it from the dock. That’s exactly the point. 

Although the vessel is now afloat, significant work remains. Tasks still to be completed include integrating components of the electric propulsion system and installing the masts and rigging. None of this would be possible without the invaluable support of volunteers, donors, and the team at the Ship Hector Society. 

It’s easy to talk about history and innovation coming together, but projects like this prove it can actually happen. It took a lot of collaboration between shipbuilders, engineers, historians, and community partners — all working with the same goal: to get the Ship Hector sailing again while giving her a sustainable future. 

For us, this has been one of those rare projects that brings you back to the roots of why we fell in love with this work in the first place. It’s a perfect example of what makes naval architecture so meaningful — blending history, craftsmanship, and innovation into something truly special. 

Congrats to the entire team and everyone who showed up to cheer on launch day. We’re proud to have been part of it.