The first fully electric U.S. tugboat will be built at an Alabama shipyard.
Master Boat Builders in Coden will build the tugboat, designed by Crowley Engineering Services and named eWolf, and it will serve the Port of San Diego.
“Crowley’s first-of-its-kind electric tugboat is a game-changer,” says Michael Zucchet, chairman of the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. “We … couldn’t be more pleased the eWolf will operate exclusively on San Diego Bay.”
The 82-foot vessel will have zero carbon emissions.
“Our dedicated shipbuilding employees are proud to be working with Crowley to lead innovation with the construction of this first-of-its-kind tugboat,” said Garrett Rice, president of Master Boat Builders. “This vessel will set a standard in the U.S. maritime industry for sustainability and performance, and its zero-emissions capability and autonomous technology will benefit the environment and the safety of mariners and vessels.”
The eTug will be a result of a partnership among Crowley, the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District, the California Air Resources Board, the Port of San Diego, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Maritime Administration, which all provided financial support and other resources.
