Foss Maritime Wins Ports’ Clean Air Technology Award
Honor follows EPA verification of retrofit tested on Campbell Foss
SEATTLE, July 19, 2013 – North America’s busiest port complex has given Foss Maritime a high environmental honor, an award for advancing hybrid tug technology that reduces greenhouse gasses, airborne particulates and pollution in all its forms.
“Foss is committed to hybrid technology,” said Paul Stevens, the company’s president and CEO. “The partnership we have with the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles is bringing demonstrably cleaner air to communities throughout San Pedro Bay. Our company’s goal is constant improvement of our hybrid technology; we want to retrofit more tugs going forward.”
Foss was chosen for a San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan Air Quality Award (CAAP) this week. The honor follows closely on another important hybrid milestone. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) earlier this month verified the environmental benefits of a hybrid retrofit system that underwent rigorous testing in Southern California waters.
Foss developed the innovative XeroPoint hybrid retrofit system in partnership with Aspin Kemp and Associates of Owen Bay, Ont.
Said Stevens, “The San Pedro ports’ recognition of Foss’ work is really an honor, especially following the EPA’s decision. Federal regulators are saying that the hybrid retrofit system is an effective choice for any U.S. harbor tug wanting to meet America’s highest environmental standards. Our proving ground was here, in Long Beach and Los Angeles, in partnership with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the ports that have the country’s most stringent clean air standards.”
Foss’ award for innovative air quality improvement technologies was given by a committee that includes representatives from the Long Beach and Los Angeles ports, the South Coast Air Quality Management District, CARB and the EPA.
“What stands out about Foss’ commitment to clean hybrid technology is that it was never driven by regulatory requirement,” said Richard Cameron, Acting Managing Director of Environmental Affairs and Planning, Port of Long Beach. “It developed its hybrid technology as part of a corporate commitment to environmental stewardship. Foss is now the clear leader.”
Foss’ partnership with the Long Beach and Los Angeles ports began prior to 2009. The company developed, built and operates the world’s first hybrid tug, Carolyn Dorothy. It has home-ported in San Pedro Bay for four years.
Following the success of the first hybrid, Foss retrofitted a second tug, Campbell Foss, to hybrid technology. It has been in service in southern California since 2012 and was used in University of California-Riverside testing that is the basis for EPA’s hybrid retrofit system verification.
The UC-Riverside test found significant economic and environmental savings:
- A fuel savings of roughly 30 percent;
- A 25 percent particulate matter reduction;
- A 30 percent reduction in nitrogen oxides produced during combustion;
- A 30 percent reduction in one of the prime greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide;
- A 35 percent reduction in carbon.
Christopher Cannon, Director of Environmental Management for the Port of Los Angeles, said, “The reduction in fuel costs and pollution from hybrid technology is significant and impressive. We are looking forward to continuing our partnership with Foss. The real beneficiaries here are the people of San Pedro communities who are getting better air.”
Foss plans to convert a third vessel, Alta June, to hybrid technology in 2014. The vessel would join the Carolyn Dorothy and the Campbell Foss in San Pedro Bay, Stevens said.