Crowley Maritime Corp., the maker of high-powered ship-assist tugboats, will build and operate the eWolf, which the company says is the first all-electric harbor tugboat. The 82-ft (25-m) vessel, with 70-ton (64-t) of bollard pull, advances the Crowley mission to help move the maritime industry forward on sustainability and decarbonization.
“The eWolf represents everything Crowley stands for: innovation, sustainability, and performance,” said company Chairman and CEO Tom Crowley. “With this groundbreaking 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.”
The e-tug will operate at the Port of San Diego’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal and will be operational by mid-2023. It will replace one tug that consumes more than 30,000 gal (114,000 L) of diesel per year. Over the first 10 years of its use, its operation will eliminate 178 ton (161 t) of nitrogen oxide, 2.5 ton (2.3 t) of diesel particulate matter, and 3100 t (3400 ton) of carbon dioxide versus a conventional tug.
“Crowley’s first-of-its-kind electric tugboat is a game-changer,” said Michael Zucchet, Chairman of the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. “It checks all the boxes by providing environmental, economic, and operational benefits for our communities and maritime industry.”
The e-tug will be built by Master Boat Builders in Coden, AL, using the design and on-site construction management of Crowley Engineering Services and its recently integrated Jensen Maritime naval architecture and marine engineering group. The vessel’s battery system will be charged at a specially designed, shoreside station developed with Cochran Marine of Seattle, WA.
“This vessel will set a standard in the U.S. 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,” said Garrett Rice, President of Master Boat Builders.
The vessel was sized and designed to complete two ship-assist jobs in the harbor with minimal to no charging required. At the bow and stern are Markey Model DEPC-48-50HP electric render/recover winch. The tug is designed to ABS Class and compliant with U.S. Coast Guard Sub-Chapter M regulations.
The eWolf electric ship-assist tug uses a large battery system coupled with power-saving technologies to enable its all-electric mission to produce zero emissions.
It features a fully integrated electrical package provided by ABB. The battery system is modular and can be maintained and upgraded for future battery technology improvements without any significant modifications to the vessel. The main propulsion battery is a Corvus 6.2-MW·h unit. Propulsion is by Schottel azimuth thruster and two 2100-kW RAMME electric motors.
The vessel has two small 300-kW generators for emergency use and to enable the vessel to transit longer distances at a reduced speed.
Designed with the vessel’s operators, and with no exhaust stacks, the e-tug has 360 degrees of visibility from the pilot’s station, allowing the operator to see contact points without obstruction. It has also been designed for future autonomous operation to increase operation safety and efficiency.
ABB also provides artificial intelligence technology with 360-degree visibility that increases safety and efficiency for mariners and provides sustainable performance. The company’s Marine Pilot Control provides intelligent maneuvering and Marine Pilot Vision the autonomous operation.
The e-tug project is 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. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), and the U.S. Maritime Administration, which all provided financial support and other resources.
For more on the eWolf, watch the animated video.
