Foss to Retrofit Second Tug With Hybrid Power System

The Seattle, Washington-based Foss Maritime Company, builder and operator of the world's first hybrid-powered tugboat, plans to add a sister hybrid tug to its Southern California fleet.

Foss plans to retrofit the Campbell Foss, a conventional dolphin-class tug currently serving San Pedro Bay, with a Foss/Aspin Kemp & Associates hybrid power system.

The vessel will be retrofit with motor generators, batteries, and control systems at Foss’ shipyard in Rainier, Oregon.

The Campbell Foss will be the sister ship to the Carolyn Dorothy, the first tug to feature a hybrid system. The Carolyn Dorothy was put into service at the Port of Long Beach in 2009.

The retrofit of the Campbell Foss will be carried out through a partnership between Foss, the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles. The project will be funded by a $1 million California Air Resources Board grant previously awarded to the Port of Long Beach.

"The Foss /Aspin Kemp & Associates hybrid technology is already proving its worth on the Carolyn Dorothy," said Richard Cameron, Director of Environmental Planning at the Port of Long Beach. “When the Air Resources Board asked for proposals to retrofit existing vessels with cutting-edge hybrid technology, we knew we wanted to partner with Foss again. We believe the retrofit will be the next step in hybrid technology evolution.”

The goal of the retrofit project is to achieve significant reductions in pollution emissions while enhancing the Campbell Foss's 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

The hybrid system retrofit is also expected to save Foss more than 100,000 gallons of diesel fuel 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.

“At Foss, we have a 'zero trace’ corporate goal and a commitment to give our customers the highest level of service,” Hayman said. “Making use of cost-effective hybrid technology is an important part of our strategy as it allows us to use best-in-class, advanced technology to serve our customers and manage our expenses over the long term while safeguarding the environment at the same time. We have an unprecedented opportunity to transition harbor tugs around the world to vessels that deliver cleaner air and greater fuel efficiency.