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Port Of San Diego News

24 Jan 2024

Crowley's All-electric Harbor Tug eWolf Delivered

Crowley's eWolf is the first all-electric ship assist harbor tugboat in the U.S. (Photo: Crowley)

Crowley on Wednesday announced it has taken delivery of its groundbreaking vessel eWolf, the first all-electric, ship assist harbor tugboat in the United States.The 82-foot tug, designed by Crowley’s engineering services team and built by Coden, Ala. shipbuilder Master Boat Builders, will enter service at the Port of San Diego this spring following final demonstration trials and completion of Crowley’s microgrid shoreside charging station. The vessel will operate with zero emissions while providing the complete performance capabilities of a traditional tug…

26 Dec 2023

Crowley's All-electric Tug eWolf Starts Sea Trials

Video screen capture from video shared by Crowley on social media.

The first all-electric tugboat built in the United States, Crowley's eWolf, has started sea trials along the U.S. Gulf Coast.The 82-foot ship assist tug, built by Coden, Ala. shipbuilder Master Boat Builders, is expected to enter service at the Port of San Diego in 2024. Video footage of the vessel on sea trials was shared by Crowley on social media.The eWolf is designed to operate on full electric power, producing zero carbon emissions and expected 70 ton bollard pull strength.

21 Sep 2023

US' MARAD Announces Grants to Boost Supply Chain Efficiency

File photo: U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (Photo: Harvey A. Duze – Office of Command Communications)

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) awarded nearly $12 million in grants to eight marine highway projects across the nation under the United States Marine Highway Program (USMHP). The funding will improve the movement of goods along our navigable waterways and expand existing waterborne freight services in Alaska, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin, which will strengthen supply chains and ultimately cut costs for consumers.“Our country has always relied on American waterways to get vital goods where they need to go,” said U.S.

10 Aug 2023

Crowley Breaks Ground in San Diego for All-electric Tugboat Charging Station

(Photo: Crowley)

Crowley and the Port of San Diego broke ground for the shoreside charging station designed to provide clean energy for the company’s forth-coming zero-emissions tugboat, eWolf.The charging station is a microgrid charging facility that will allow vessels to recharge quickly while reducing peak loads on the community energy grid. It is equipped with two containerized energy storage systems provided by Corvus Energy. The station is designed to operate on off-peak hours from the community’s energy grid, and it includes a solar power array to support renewable energy use.

17 Apr 2023

2023 US Shipbuilding Report

Philly Shipyard is currently building MARAD’s National Security Multi-Mission Vessels, which will serve as training ships for the nation’s state maritime academies. (Photo: Philly Shipyard)

Much has changed since Marine News’ 2022 shipbuilding report published in March last year, and business opportunities in certain market segments continue to grow. But the shipyards that are looking to cash in are still facing many of the same challenges.For example, many American shipyards and their partners throughout the shipbuilding supply chain are still finding it difficult to attract and retain the workers they need. If you’re a skilled craftsperson looking for a job in shipbuilding, you’re in luck, because there are plenty of openings at shipyards across the country.

05 Apr 2023

Power Play: Innovative Mobile Device Connects Vessels to Shoreside Electricity

(Photo: Watts Marine)

Mobile Cable Positioning Devices can quickly accommodate vessels of many sizes and shapes, making shore power available almost immediately, a boon to the industry’s ambitious decarbonization goalsOne of the keys to reaching Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) target of net-zero carbon cruising globally by 2050 is switching from diesel burning engines to shoreside electricity while in port. Although the technology can significantly reduce emissions to address climate change and improve air quality…

20 Jan 2023

First Cruise Ships Tap Shore Power at Port of San Diego

(Photo; Port of San Diego)

On January 13, two cruise ships plugged into the newly completed shore power expansion at the Port of San Diego cruise ship terminal for the first time – a doubling of the previous capacity.The Disney Wonder and the Insignia were able to simultaneously use shore power rather than running their diesel engines while at berth. Previously, only one cruise vessel could plug in.The recent addition of the new station along with the initial one installed in 2010 make it possible for the…

01 Dec 2022

Corvus Containerized ESS Will Charge Crowley's eWolf Electric Tug

(Image: Corvus Energy)

Corvus Energy on Thursday announced it will supply shoreside battery energy storage systems (ESS) for Crowley's eWolf, the first zero-emission, all-electric tugboat being built for operations in the U.S.The system will consist of two Corvus Orca BOBs—the containerized version of the Corvus Orca ESS—used for charging the vessel shoreside from when it enters service in San Diego’s harbor in 2023.Corvus Energy is also supplying the 6.2 MWh Corvus Orca ESS on board eWolf, which is currently under construction at Master Boat Builders…

31 Oct 2022

MARAD Awards Nearly $39 Million in Marine Highway Grants

© raoyang / Adobe Stock

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) awarded nearly $39 million in grants to 12 marine highway projects across the Nation under the America’s Marine Highway Program (AMHP). The funding will help expand marine highway services on the United States’ navigable waterways to reduce congestion, alleviate supply chain bottlenecks, and move goods more quickly from ships to shelves.“At a time of record demand for goods, it’s more important than ever to…

22 Aug 2022

Austal USA Names Kruger VP of Global Services and Support

Michelle Kruger (Photo: Austal USA)

Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA welcomes Michelle Kruger as vice president of global services and support. Operating from Austal’s San Diego waterfront services facility, Kruger is responsible for Austal USA’s global post-delivery repair and warranty efforts, including the development of business strategy and strategic alliances. As the primary customer interface for ship repair and maintenance services, Kruger will lead the pursuit of future government and commercial business…

19 May 2022

Corvus Energy to Open US Battery Factory

Geir Bjørkeli (right), CEO of Corvus Energy, and Elliott T. Smith, Director of Real Estate and Asset Management at the Port of Bellingham, at the announcement ceremony for the new Corvus Energy US manufacturing facility to build world-leading large-scale maritime battery energy storage systems. (Photo: Corvus Energy)

Corvus Energy, supplier of battery energy storage systems (BESS) for marine applications, announced plans to open a new factory in the state of Washington to help meet demand for marine BESS in the Americas as the marine industry accelerates its adoption of decarbonization technology to meet global emissions reduction targets.The manufacturing facility—located just north of Seattle in the Port of Bellingham—will have an annual capacity of 200 MWh of stored energy capacity as forecasts…

20 Apr 2022

MARAD Announces New 'Marine Highway' Route and Projects

© Jon / Adobe Stock

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced the designation of a new Marine Highway Route, two new Marine Highway Projects, and one Project Designation Extension as part of the America’s Marine Highway Program (AMHP). While focusing on supply chain efficiency will have nationwide effects, the states of Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, California, and Oregon will receive new routes, designations, or extensions.The…

12 Apr 2022

Crowley and Shell Partner on Maritime Decarbonization

(Image: Crowley)

U.S.-based shipping and logistics form Crowley said it is teaming up with international energy major Shell to support alternative energy solutions for the future of shoreside and terminal operations.Under a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Crowley and Shell Trading (US) Company, the companies will look broadly at how they can jointly develop sustainable solutions across the U.S. maritime sector, possibly including lower-emissions vessels and technology at ports across the West…

18 Oct 2023

Alt-fueled Workboats: Building the Business Case

Crowley Maritime Corp will take delivery in 2023 of an electric tug, dubbed eWolf, built by Master Boat Builders in Coden, Ala. (Image: Crowley)

There’s no energy shortage when it comes to projects promoting the viability of alternatively fueled marine vessels (alt-fueled vessels).Consider just a few examples:Crowley Maritime Corp will take delivery in 2023 of an electric tugboat, dubbed eWolf, built by Master Boat Builders in Coden, Ala.The Hydrogen One towboat, using methanol-to-hydrogen technology, is being developed by its owner Maritime Partners.Master Boat Builders and Robert Allan Ltd. announced last fall the creation of a new battery hybrid, the ElectRA 3000-H, designed for U.S.

11 Mar 2022

2022 US Shipbuilding Report

Gladding Hearn is currently building four pilot boats, including a 70-foot pilot boat for the Galveston Pilots. (Photo: Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding)

It’s a common story in the U.S. shipbuilding industry today. A piece of equipment that used to be available for delivery on short notice—maybe in one or two weeks—now must be ordered months or more in advance, and it costs double. Add to this rising steel prices and the labor issues that have pervaded nearly all industrial sectors since the early days of the pandemic, and it’s clear that business is far from usual for American shipyards.Bollinger Shipyards president and CEO, Ben Bordelon…

20 Dec 2021

Austal USA Orders Dry Dock for New West Coast Yard

(Photo: Austal USA)

Austal USA on Monday revealed it has ordered a new dry dock that it said will become the centerpiece of its new repair facility in San Diego.Construction on the dry dock began Monday at Sedef Shipyard in Turkey, and the completed vessel is scheduled to be fully operational in Austal’s new West Coast yard by August 2023.The dry dock will have a 9,000 light ton lifting capacity. It will be 531 feet (162 meters) long, 154 feet (47 meters) wide, with a maximum draft of 36 feet (11…

17 Dec 2021

Master Boat Builders Begins Building Crowley's eWolf Electric Tug

(Photo: Crowley)

Coden, Ala. shipbuilder Master Boat Builders has started building Crowley’s eWolf, the first all-electric ship assist tug in the U.S.“Initiating construction of the first-ever fully electric U.S. tugboat, the eWolf marks a historic moment for Crowley and Master Boat Builders,” said Garrett Rice, president of Master Boat Builders. “Today is also a remarkable milestone for the entire U.S. maritime industry, as we work toward providing groundbreaking net zero-emission maritime capabilities.”The…

16 Dec 2021

Austal USA Inks Deal to Open West Coast Repair Facility

Photo courtesy Austal USA

Austal USA finalized a deal to establish a repair facility in the Port of San Diego. The deal, first announced in November, includes a long-term lease of a waterfront site in National City adjacent to Naval Base San Diego, and the 15-acre site will focus on ship repair for U.S. Navy, Military Sealift Command and U.S. Coast Guard ships. The site will be centered on a newly-built dry dock designed to efficiently dock small surface combatants and similar sized ships.“This agreement marks a major milestone in the continued growth of Austal USA’s services business.

30 Aug 2021

Corvus to Supply Battery for Crowley's All-electric Tug

(Image: Corvus Energy)

Corvus Energy announced it has been selected by ABB Marine & Ports to supply the energy storage system for Crowley Maritime Corporation's all-electric tug eWolf—the first of its kind in the U.S.Crowley, which announced its plans to build and operate the innovative harbor tug in July, has tapped Master Boat Builders, Inc., in Alabama to build the vessel and ABB to deliver its integrated electric propulsion system and vessel control technology.The 82-foot-long vessel will be installed with 6.2 MWh of Corvus Orca Energy battery…

08 Dec 2021

Crowley eWolf Electric Tugboat to Feature Schottel Propulsion

Photo courtesy Crowley/Schottel

Crowley’s new 25-m eWolf, the first all-electric tug to be built and operated in the U.S., will be equipped with Schottel systems, including a pair of RudderPropellers type SRP 430 featuring the LE-Drive (Embedded L-Drive) and MariHub, the data IoT Gateway and monitoring solution.Designed by Crowley Engineering Services  and to be built at Master Boat Builders shipyard in Coden, Alabama, the innovative workboat is scheduled to enter operations by mid-2023. When it enters service…

10 Nov 2021

Austal USA Expands West Coast Repair Operations

(Photo: Woody S. Paschall / U.S. Navy)

Shipbuilder Austal USA said it received approval from the San Diego Port of Commissioners to assume the lease of Marine Group Boat Works in the Port of San Diego. Austal USA and Marine Group Boat Works are entering a 45-day exclusive period to close the agreement.Austal USA will use the 15-acre site to focus on ship repair for U.S. Navy, Military Sealift Command and U.S. Coast Guard ships, establishing a full service ship repair capability providing maintenance and modernization for small surface combatants, autonomous vehicles and other vessels. The site, immediately adjacent to U.S.

18 Nov 2021

Leading the Charge

Crowley’s new eWolf will be the first all-electric tugboat in the U.S. (Image: Crowley)

Alternatives to fossil fuels are emerging throughout the maritime universe, and vessels working in U.S. rivers, waterways and harbors are at the cusp on this trend. While the alternative fuels spectrum is wide, battery power and electrification—a technology that has seen a decade of shipboard applications already—is particularly suited for smaller vessels.Crowley Maritime Corp will be taking delivery of a completely electric tugboat, dubbed eWolf; the boat- which will include kit for advanced vessel control tied to an electric propulsion system from ABB…

07 Oct 2021

'Containergeddon': Supply Crisis Drives Walmart and Rivals to Hire Their Own Ships

The Flying Buttress once glided across the oceans carrying vital commodities like grain to all corners of the world.Now it bears a different treasure: Paw Patrol Movie Towers, Batmobile Transformers and Baby Alive Lulu Achoo dolls.The dry bulk cargo ship has been drafted into the service of retail giant Walmart, which is chartering its own vessels in an effort to beat the global supply chain disruptions that threaten to torpedo the retail industry's make-or-break holiday season."Chartering vessels is just one example of investments we've made to move products as quickly as possible," said Joe Metzger, U.S. executive vice president of supply-chain operations at Walmart…