Through a Technology Advancement Program (TAP) utilized as part of the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan, the Port of Los Angeles will co-fund the "green" tug initiative, contributing $850,000. Technology Advancement Program funding from the Port of Los Angeles was made possible through a Memorandum of Understanding forged five years ago between the Port and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). The Port matched a $1,000,000 California Air Resources Board (CARB) grant to create a $2,000,000 program to help develop less polluting technology for harbor craft operating within the L.A./Long Beach port complex through prototype projects like the Foss hybrid tug.
With an anticipated delivery in 2008, the hybrid tug will reduce all emissions (nitrogen oxide, particulate emissions, sulphur dioxide and carbon emissions) and exceed the EPA's Tier 2 emissions requirement for marine engines. Initial estimates are that particulate matter and nitrogen oxides are reduced by 44% for the same duty cycle as the current Dolphin tugs operating in San Pedro harbor.
Hybrid tug technology is ideally suited for harbor tugs that need high amounts of power for short periods of time. The Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex is an ideal environment for a hybrid tug, as tugs in the harbor operate close to where they dock. While performing ship assist jobs in this harbor, tug boats spend very little time at peak power (peak RPM), and a tug's full horsepower is not being used most of the day. According to Foss, tugs in the San Pedro Bay port complex can spend up to 50 percent of their time idling. When the proposed hybrid tug idles, it will emit virtually zero emissions.
"Tugs are the backbone of ports worldwide, and the 'hybrid' tug Foss will produce is a first in the industry," said Geraldine Knatz Ph.D. executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. "Because the air emissions reductions are absolutely extraordinary, this is the kind of out-of-the-box thinking that our port encourages and welcomes in line with the San Pedro Bay Clean Air Action Plan."
"Foss is proud to be working with the San Pedro Bay Ports on such an important project as the hybrid tug," said Gary C. Faber, president and COO of Foss. "This is just the latest example of how Foss sits at the leading edge of maritime technology, engineering and shipbuilding. As a company, we're committed to maintaining our natural environment. Foss anticipates there will be a growing market for our 'green' tugs in the years to come."
Photo courtesy of Port of Los Angeles
