Electric tug boat for Port of San Diego

Crowley Maritime Corporation will build and operate the first all-electric powered harbour tug boat at San Diego Bay.

Over the first 10 years of its use, the operation of the new eWolf will reduce 178 tons of NOX, 2.5 tons of diesel particulate matter, and 3,100 metric tons of CO2 versus a conventional tug.

The electric tug will replace one that consumes more than 30,000 gallons of diesel per year.

The eTug will operate at the Port of San Diego’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal and will be operational by mid-2023.

The eTug will feature a fully integrated electrical package provided by ABB.

With 360-degree visibility, the eTug will also feature ABB’s AI technology to increase safety and efficiency.

Michael Zucchet, Chairman of the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners, commented, “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.

“We are proud to work with Crowley and couldn’t be more pleased the eWolf will operate exclusively on San Diego Bay.”

The eTug will be built by Master Boat Builders in Coden, Ala., utilizing the design and on-site construction management by Crowley Engineering Services and its recently integrated Jensen Maritime naval architecture and marine engineering group.

The eTug’s battery system will be charged at a specially designed, shoreside station developed with Cochran Marine.

The eTug will be a result of a partnership among Crowley, the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District, the California Air Resources Board, the Port of San Diego, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Maritime Administration, which all provided financial support and other resources.

https://www.porttechnology.org/news/electric-tugboat-for-port-of-san-diego/