World’s first hybrid tug boat in the works

Foss Maritime announced today that it plans to build the world’s first true hybrid tug boat.

The vessel is to significantly reduce harmful nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide and carbon emissions. It will also consume less fuel and be quieter than its conventional predecessors, the company said. 

Earlier this week, the Port of Los Angeles pledged $850,000 to the project, in association with the South Coast Air Quality Management District, and the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners preliminarily approved a $500,000 contribution to the vessel’s construction.

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the nation’s no. 1 and no. 2 container ports, have expressed interest in funding Foss’ hybrid tug as part of their San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan, a sweeping proposal aimed at reducing the health risks posed by air pollution from port-related ships, trains, trucks, terminal equipment and harbor craft.

In exchange for funding, Foss would agree to homeport the new hybrid tug in Southern California for five years.

The Foss hybrid tug is scheduled to go into production later this year and will be delivered to Foss’ Southern California operations in 2008.

The Foss hybrid tug will look almost identical to its sister boats, but is to be quieter, cleaner and more fuel efficient, using hybrid technology. The hybrid tug’s drive units will be powered by batteries coupled with diesel generators and feature a modified engine room accommodating two 670 horsepower battery packs and two 335 horsepower generators.

The 5,000 horsepower Foss hybrid tug will be primarily used for harbor assist services — moving vessels such as tankers and container ships in and out of the harbor and into their berths.

Tugs at the Los Angeles/Long Beach spend up to 50 percent of their time idling, with the main engines on and ready to respond, but with no power actually being used for propulsion. With Foss’ hybrid tug, energy is produced only on demand, so that idling of the main engines will no longer be necessary.

Cleantech developments making news in the past 24 hours

• Econcern partners on €863M Chinese wind farm deal
• Behind the scenes at Cleantech Forum Shanghai
• Infinite Power raises $13M to ramp thin-film batteries
• Hawaii becomes next stop for Better Place
• Thar Technologies looks at India's karanj, jatropha for biodiesel

View the last week of cleantech developments here | Subscribe to full feed