Page 26: of Marine News Magazine (March 2022)

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Feature

Pushboats, Tugs, Barges

Crowley

ALT-FUELED VESSELS:

Building the Business Case

By Tom Ewing here’s no energy shortage when it comes to proj- • Master Boat Builders and Robert Allan Ltd. ects promoting the viability of alternatively fueled announced last fall the creation of a new battery hybrid, marine vessels (alt-fueled vessels). the ElectRA 3000-H, designed for U.S. tugboat operations.

T

Consider just a few examples: These projects deservedly draw a lot of attention. But • Crowley Maritime Corp will take delivery in 2023 do they spark interest—and action—among workboat of an electric tugboat, dubbed eWolf, built by company executives and engineers? Or are these projects Master Boat Builders in Coden, Ala. viewed as, yes, interesting, but largely a curiosity?

• The Hydrogen One towboat, using Timing is critical. Many energy activists would like fos- methanol-to-hydrogen technology, is being developed sil fuel engines largely replaced by 2030, or at least on a by its owner Maritime Partners. steep phase-out schedule. Workboats, though, can last for 26 | MN March 2022