EPA awards US$2 million funds for electric tug purchase

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded over US$2 million in federal grant funding to aid in the purchase of a new electric-powered escort tug that will operate out of the Port of San Diego in California.

The new vessel will replace an older tug powered by EPA Tier II-compliant diesel engines.

The new tug will be powered by an electric propulsion system that is expected to reduce emissions of NOx, fine particulate matter, and CO2 by 204 tonnes, three tonnes, and 5,220 tonnes, respectively, throughout the project’s lifetime.

The EPA-awarded funds will be combined with around US$17.6 million in leveraged funds from public and private partners.

See more stories from this month’s Tug and Salvage Week here.