US-based Crowley Maritime Corp unveiled plans to build an all-electric-powered harbour tug to operate in the Port of San Diego
Called eWolf, the 25-m vessel will have 70 tonnes of bollard pull when it begins operation in mid-2023 out of Port of San Diego’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal.
“eWolf represents everything Crowley stands for: innovation, sustainability and performance,” said Crowley Maritime chairman and chief executive Tom Crowley.
“With this ground-breaking tug design, our team continues to embrace our role as leaders in the maritime industry while providing our customers with innovative and sustainable solutions done right,” said Mr Crowley.
Over its first 10 years of operation, the new eTug will reduce 178 tonnes of NOx, 2.5 tonnes of diesel particulate matter, and 3,100 tonnes of CO2 as compared with the Tier 2 diesel-powered tug it is replacing, which consumes more than 113,600 litres of diesel per year.
Designed by Crowley Engineering Services and its recently integrated naval architectural arm Jensen Maritime to comply with ABS class and USCG Subchapter M, the eTug will be built by Master Boat Builders in Coden, Alabama.
The eTug’s Corvus 6.2 MkWh battery system will be charged at a shoreside station developed with Cochran Marine.
“Crowley’s first-of-its-kind electric tugboat is a game changer. It checks all the boxes by providing environmental, economic, and operational benefits for our communities and maritime industry,” said Port of San Diego board chairman Michael Zucchet.
Producing zero carbon emissions in operation, eWolf will have an integrated electrical package provided by ABB. Additionally, designed with 360° visibility from the bridge, the eTug will incorporate ABB’s artificial intelligence technology, ABB Pilot Vision and ABB Pilot Control, to increase safety and efficiency for mariners.
Propulsion will be supplied by two Schottel nozzled azimuthing thrusters.
Understandably proud, Master Boat Builders president Garrett Rice said, “This vessel will set a standard in the US maritime industry for sustainability and performance, and its zero-emissions capability and autonomous technology will benefit the environment and the safety of mariners and vessels.”
Realisation of the eTug is the result of a partnership between Crowley, the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District, the California Air Resources Board, the Port of San Diego, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Maritime Administration, which all provided financial support and other resources.
The Port of San Diego received US$2M in grant funding from the Environmental Protection Agency’s West Coast Collaborative supporting the project. The collaborative is a public-private partnership set up to reduce diesel emissions. San Diego County Air Pollution Control District and Crowley Marine together provided US$17.6M in matching funds.
Riviera Maritime Media will provide free technical and operational webinars in 2021. Sign up to attend on our events page
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.