Construction of the first fully electric truckable pusher tug is set to commence Q3 2023
Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) and Miller Marine are designing this 8-m tugboat as a multipurpose utility vessel for handling vessels and lines, supporting marine construction, dredging and buoy deployments.
It is an electric version of an existing truckable tug design for inland waterways operations, but with room in the hull for batteries and featuring an electrical propulsion system. This electric tug will be charged through shore power using charging stations around the US, once these are built and commissioned.
Miller Marine is building this tug at its facilities in Deltaville, Virginia in two units – the hull with the propulsion system for pushing vessels and barges, and the topsides superstructure including the wheelhouse, which can be loaded separately onto a flatbed trailer and mobilised around the US, depending on client requirements.
EBDG said this vessel will be powered by two permanent magnet motors with total power of more than 300 kW for 12 hours of operations between battery recharging.
When asked online how this battery-electric tug will be charged, EBDG co-founder and president Michael Complita said this “depends on the power source and capacity available at the operating location.”
For example, a remote land-locked construction site will almost certainly have one or more sources of electrical power, such as a diesel generator.
“It would be better to have a single more efficient source of grey power to draw from versus an onboard engine idling most of the time,” said Mr Complita. “There are also a number of low-emissions containerised power options on or very close to arrival on the market.”
In many cases, at ports, harbours and other facilities where this design is likely to bring the most benefit, there will be access to adequate shore power.
“This design is flexible to accommodate the owner/operator’s specific requirements for the shore charging connection as well as operations in both well established and remote locations,” said Mr Complita.
A closed-loop fluid cooling system will provide temperature control for the batteries, motors and electronics, enhancing safety and maximising the units’ lifetimes.
Siemens Energy marine applications manager Kyle Kennett said, “AC charging at a fairly standard voltage is a great choice here and eliminates a couple of safety issues in the vessel to shore connection.”
EBDG and Miller Marine are tendering for contractors and suppliers to provide the onboard technology required for this all-electric pusher tug.
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