Crowley launches all-electric tugboat in San Diego port
US-based ship operator Crowley has launched an all-electric ship assist harbour tugboat at the Port of San Diego in the US.
PHOTO: Crowley’s all-electric tugboat eWolf. Crowley
A ship assist harbour tugboat is a small and powerful vessel designed to manoeuvre larger ships in confined waters, such as harbours, by pushing or pulling them to assist with docking, undocking, and other navigational tasks.
The all-electric tugboat, eWolf, features a fully integrated package for battery energy storage developed by the Swiss automation company ABB. It is supported by a new microgrid shoreside charging station, allowing the tug to operate at full performance daily using electricity.
The tugboat has been built by boat builder Master Boat Builders in the US.
Although the immediate impact that these small-scale electric vessels will have on global greenhouse gas emissions might be limited, the tugboat holds significance as it provides crucial technical and operational insights that can inform the development of larger-scale electric vessels in the future.
By Tuhin Roy
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