Crowley christens America’s ‘first’ all-electric tugboat

U.S.-based marine company Crowley has christened its all-electric ship assist harbor tugboat eWolf at the Port of San Diego.

Built by Master Boat Builders in Coden, Alabama, the 82-foot (25-meter) vessel features a fully integrated electrical package for battery energy storage by ABB with technology for mariner safety. It is supported by a microgrid shoreside charging station that enables it to operate at full performance daily on electricity. The eTug is expected to enter commercial service this week.

Crowley was joined at the vessel christening by project partners including the Port of San Diego, San Diego County Air Pollution Control District, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the U.S. EPA and the U.S. Maritime Administration.

Tom Crowley, Chairman and CEO of Crowley, said eWolf will help their customers and communities “reach their decarbonization goals while delivering capabilities that strengthen our vital supply chain.”

Frank Urtasun, Chairman of Port of San Diego, stated: “Crowley’s first-of-its-kind electric tugboat is a game changer. It checks all the boxes by providing environmental, economic, and operational benefits for our communities and maritime industry. This is truly a story of teamwork and collaboration. We are proud to work with Crowley and our state and local partners on this and other electrification initiatives at and around our port, including electric cargo handling equipment like our all-electric mobile harbor cranes, our microgrid, vessel shore power, and more.”

Diane Takvorian, a member of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), claimed that “eWolf will contribute significantly to creating a healthy environment for all communities,” and Jack Shu, San Diego County Air Pollution Control District Governing Board Chair and a City of La Mesa Councilmember, pointed out that “eWolf exemplifies how collaboration between government and private partners can drive meaningful change.”

To note, Crowley revealed it chose eWolf’s name in a nod to a tugboat in its initial fleet, the Sea Wolf, which operated more than a century ago in California. The company took delivery of the eTug at the beginning of 2024.