Watch: Crowley’s All-Electric Tugboat Begins Sea Trials Along The U.S. Gulf Coast

The eWolf, Crowley’s revolutionary all-electric tugboat, has begun sea trials along the U.S. Gulf Coast, a significant milestone as it is the first of its kind in the country. The 82-foot ship assist tug is scheduled for service at the San Diego Port in 2024. Master Boat Builders in Coden, Alabama, built it.

The eWolf has an exceptional 70-ton bollard pull strength and produces zero carbon emissions when it runs entirely on electricity. A 6.2 MWh Orca battery energy storage system from Corvus Energy, two electrically powered Schottel RudderPropellers type SRP 430 LE with 2.5-meter propeller diameters, and an integrated electrical package from ABB are just a few of the latest innovations on board the vessel.

Video Credit: Crowley/Facebook

A specifically constructed shoreside station that houses two Corvus Orca BOBs (battery on board), the containerised version of the Corvus Orca ESS makes charging the tug’s battery system easier. The vessel complies with U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter M requirements and is built to ABS class.

Crowley, the California Air Resources Board, the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District, the Port of San Diego, the U.S. Maritime Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency worked together to create an innovative electric tug that complies with the Jones Act. These organisations provided resources and financial support, which helped make this environmentally beneficial maritime solution a reality.

The company’s chairman and CEO, Tom Crowley, stated that eWolf represents everything Crowley stands for: innovation, sustainability, and performance. With estimates showing a decrease of 178 tons of nitrogen oxide, 2.5 tons of diesel matter, and 3,100 metric tons of carbon dioxide over its first ten years of operation compared to a typical tug, the vessel substantially influences sustainability.

Crowley’s commitment to attaining net-zero emissions in all domains by 2050 aligns with the marine sector’s increasing fascination with hybrid and entirely electric ships to reduce emissions.

Reference: MarineLink

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