Eco Factor: Electric-diesel hybrid tugboat by Foss Maritime.
Officials at Foss Maritime believe that tugboats work at full power just about 7% of the time and during the other 93% of the time they are either anchored or work at minimum power. To reduce environmental impact when the tugboats are not being used for the purpose they are built for, Foss Maritime has developed a hybrid tugboat known as The Carolyn Dorothy.
This new hybrid tug is equipped with an array of 126 rechargeable gel-cell lead batteries connected to two generator sets that convert electrical energy into tug usable form. When the tugboat needs full power it uses the two larger diesel engines. Company officials have stated that the new arrangements would help in reducing diesel particulate matter and nitrogen oxide by about 44% when compared to other tugs in its class.
The Dark Side:
The tug’s green credentials of the tug come at a huge cost. The Carolyn Dorothy costs about $8 million while other tugs in the same class cost about $5 million.
Via: PacificShipper
