Hybrid tug a potential game-changer for nation's ports

One marine transportation company that is out in front on the twin issues of energy usage and environmental sustainability for the nation's ports is Seattle's Saltchuk Resources.

Hybrid tug Carolyn Dorothy, "the Ford Escape of tugboats," works the Port of Long Beach, CA, quietly, cleanly, and powerfully.

Kicking-off the first-ever National Port Summit, Acting Maritime Administrator David Matsuda declared yesterday that "aging infrastructure, declining budgets, growing environmental sustainability and the changing outlook of international trade" are key issues affecting the nation's ports.

David advised that the nation's ports, working with MARAD, "should develop a strategy to move goods efficiently, with respect to transportation costs, delivery times, and energy usage."

Well, the folks at Saltchuk may have already cracked a couple of those challenges.

Saltchuk's  Foss Maritime Company has developed a hybrid tugboat that uses an efficient combination of batteries, generators, and main diesel engines. The Hybrid Tug is both powerful and green, significantly reducing emissions compared with conventional tugs.

This is a potentially game-changing development for our nation's ports.

Emissions of nitrogen oxide, particulates, sulfur dioxide, and carbon have been linked to several health conditions, including aggravated asthma, and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency claims that "particulate matter from diesel exhaust overwhelmingly presents the highest health risk in the Puget Sound area."

The Port of Long Beach, California, has aggressively sought improvements in local air quality. Perhaps that's why Saltchuk's Carolyn Dorothy, the hybrid tug that calls Long Beach home, was awarded the EPA’s Clean Air Excellence Award for Clean Air Technology in 2008.

You see, tugboats generally need full diesel power only during ship-assists, which comprise only about 12% of a tug's operating cycle. With its 126 batteries, what Saltchuk's management team calls "the Ford Escape of tugboats" only rarely needs to engage its diesels.

This flexible hybrid technology can be used to convert existing tugs of all types to hybrid vessels with lower emissions, improved fuel economy and lower maintenance costs. And much less noise.

The Saltchuk team says their technology could be applied in over 500 harbor tugs nationwide. "Hybrid tugs can become ubiquitous on the waterfront," says VP Tim Engle.

I look forward to the day when that potential is realized.

Comments

[Cheap Computers Canada]

Everything looks cost effective and this is how we should also be.

[Don Rankin]

I think its great to see this technology being using for ports, and should be more of it I say. Congratulations to the company behind this.

[AMH]

Wow, that boat is unreal. Now I wonder if more ships will use superconductor wire as oppose to copper to make their engine components. That would be some powerful tugboat!

[Jane Reifer]

Just wanted to let you know that it's hard to find the
Federal Transit Administration link on this bpg site, because it's on the same line as the Federal Railroad Administration. Can this be fixed? Thanks!

[Michael E. Bailey]

It is very important that this new technology has been developed and put into operation. It will greatly help to clean up air in the ports. The California Air Resources Board also says the risk of heart problems goes up the longer time you spend driving on freeways. And they say that diesel fuel exhaust into the air is the key cause. Converting to alternative fuels like CNG, LNG, and Hydrogen will be important to health and quality of life. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[cheap computers canada]

These problems with ports can only be solved when you join other countries and have some solution so these major port problems will be solved because this is one of the revenue generating industry.

[Tugs for sale]

This technology can solve the problems of ports. I think all the ports must use technologies. And why not? Its cost effective as well as cleaning the air. Hats off to this company.

[ramon]

We are FINALLY moving in the right direction.

[typemad]

I think that this is a great energy breakthrough. Every little difference counts. Hopefully the health risks will decrease.

[Mike]

This type of technology needs to be adapted more quickly in a larger variety of fields. The benefits to air quality alone would be worth it, not to mention all the other positives.

[finite answers]

I think its great to see this technology being using for ports, and should be more of it I say. Congratulations to the company behind this.

[united]

Like this technology Some more technologies has to be adapted more quickly in a larger variety of fields. The benefits to air quality alone would be good for it.

[united]

Conventional methods are the cause for atmospheric pollution. But the new technology will reduce this as well as this is economic. best wishes.

[marina's dream]

My father served on the USS Borum which used GE turbo-electric drive propulsion in 1943, so how is this new technology?

[Marina Del Rey Boat Guy]

Marina Del Rey Boat owners have enjoyed environmentally friendly Boat Cleaning by dive companies.

It has helped to reduce pollutants in the ocean locally.

Glad to see another company doing the same.

Capt. Jack