Foss Maritime Company, builder and operator of the world's first hybrid tugboat, will soon add another pioneering vessel to its Southern California fleet with the help of an air quality grant obtained by the Port of Long Beach.
Building on the success of Foss' Carolyn Dorothy hybrid tug, which was launched into service at the Port of Long Beach in 2009, Foss will retrofit an existing tug with hybrid technology for service in San Pedro Bay, thanks to a $1m grant from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to the Port. The project will be implemented through a partnership between Foss, the Port of Long Beach, and the Port of Los Angeles.
Foss will retrofit the Campbell Foss, a conventional dolphin tug currently assisting oceangoing vessels in the San Pedro Bay. The boat will be retrofitted with motor generators, batteries, and control systems at Foss' shipyard in Rainier, Oregon.
The goal is to achieve significant reductions in pollution emissions while enhancing fuel efficiency and operational capabilities. Projected annual emissions reductions per year include:
• More than 1.7 tons of diesel particulate matter
• More than 53 tons of oxides of nitrogen
• More than 1.2 tons of reactive organic gases
• More than 1,340 tons of carbon dioxide
In addition, more than 100,000 gallons of diesel fuel will be saved each year.
Susan Hayman, Foss Maritime's Vice President of Environmental and Governmental Affairs, said Foss has been looking forward to an opportunity to retrofit one of its existing tugs to work alongside the Carolyn Dorothy and plans to introduce more hybrid tugs in the years to come.