Arctic Oil & Gas Directory: Foss Maritime hybrid tug on way to California

Foss Maritime Co. said Jan. 18 that a second hybrid tug will soon be working the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Foss once again partnered with Aspin Kemp and Associates to retrofit the Campbell Foss with this proven, patented hybrid technology.

The tug is the first vessel to be retrofitted with motor generators, batteries and control systems at Foss’ Rainier, Ore., shipyard. The Campbell Foss will join its award-winning hybrid sister, the Carolyn Dorothy, which has been bringing cleaner air and greater fuel efficiency to Southern California communities since 2009. The launch marks another step in hybrid technology’s evolution and allows Foss to provide “Green Assists™” to its customers in San Pedro Bay.

The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are partnering with Foss to bring the second hybrid to San Pedro Bay with help from a $1 million grant from the California Air Resources Board under the AB 118 Air Quality Improvement Program.

“With intensive testing, we demonstrated that the hybrid technology in use on the first hybrid tug was very effective in reducing emissions,” said Richard Corey, deputy executive officer, California Air Resources Board. “We are very pleased that the Carolyn Dorothy will soon be joined in San Pedro Bay by a second hybrid using the same proven technology. Use of these proven hybrid technologies brings us one step closer to achieving our longer term goals for a zero emission freight transportation system.”