The ABB-powered electric tug eWolf was officially christened this week at the Port of San Diego, California. This marks a significant advance in the electrification of ships in the United States. Owned and operated by Crowley, the eWolf incorporates an electric propulsion system that is electric propulsion system propulsion system that includes a 6.2 megawatt-hour energy storage system (ESS).
This system allows the vessel to achieve a 70 short tons drawbar pull at fixed point without emissions and operate a full day on a single load. Electricity is cheaper to produce ashore than on board, which also reduces operating costs. The eWolf will replace a tugboat that consumed more than 30,000 gallons of diesel fuel annually, significantly decreasing greenhouse gas emissions in the San Diego port area.
Design and construction of the electric tugboat
For its construction, Crowley selected ABB as the full systems integrator. The eWolf design was developed by Crowley’s engineering services group in collaboration with ABB and built by Master Boat Builders, Inc. in Alabama, and delivered in January 2024. This project was supported by the Port of San Diego, the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the U.S. EPA and the U.S. Maritime Administration.
Cole Van Gundy, Crowley’s vice president of engineering services, highlighted the importance of the eWolf’s innovative design, noting that this tug represents a significant breakthrough for the maritime industry by combining high performance with zero emissions, thus meeting modern supply chain demands.
Van Gundy also stressed that the creation of the first all-electric ship-assist tug was achieved through effective public-private collaboration, demonstrating the potential of these partnerships to promote a cleaner and more efficient maritime future.
Port of San Diego moves forward in electrification with eWolf
Frank Urtasun, chairman of the San Diego Board of Harbor Commissioners, expressed his enthusiasm for the commissioning of the first all-electric tugboat in the U.S. at the port, highlighting that this achievement is aligned with the port’s Maritime Clean Air Strategy. Urtasun said the eWolf is an example of the Port’s and its partners’ commitment to significantly reduce emissions in and around San Diego Bay by reinforcing the clean and efficient maritime clean and efficient maritime operations.
ABB has provided its award-winning Onboard DC Grid™ power distribution platform to optimize power usage, along with the ABB Ability™ marine diagnostic system for continuous equipment monitoring and ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot products to improve safety and reduce crew workload. Pilot Vision technology offers 360-degree visibility from the pilot’s station, while Pilot Control facilitates maneuvering support. In addition, ABB supplied transformers, propulsion motors, azimuth thrusters and low-voltage switchboards, providing design, engineering, project management and commissioning support.
ABB and Crowley
Bruce Strupp, vice president of Marine Systems U.S. and Canada at ABB Marine & Ports, highlighted ABB’s leadership in total systems integration and the adoption of electrical, digital and connected technologies in the maritime industry.
Strupp noted that ABB has pioneered the construction of the first all-electric ferries in the U.S. and has now successfully delivered the country’s first electric tugboat. Collaboration with Crowley’s engineering engineering services from concept to delivery has been a great success, aligning the values of both companies towards maritime decarbonization and crew safety.
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Source and photo: gcaptain
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