The ABB powered all-electric tug eWolf has been christened this week at the Port of San Diego, California, marking a new chapter in vessel electrification in the United States. Owned and operated by Crowley, eWolf features an end-to-end electric propulsion system from ABB including a 6.2-megawatt-hour energy storage system. This allows the vessel to achieve 70 short tons of bollard pull with zero emissions and complete a full day of work on a single charge. Given electricity is cheaper to produce on shore than onboard a vessel, the ESS also minimizes operating costs. The eWolf will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the port area of San Diego, replacing a tug that consumed over 30,000 gallons of diesel per year.
Crowley selected ABB as the full systems integrator for eWolf. The vessel was designed by Crowley’s engineering services group in collaboration with ABB and built by Alabama-based Master Boat Builders, Inc. It was delivered in January 2024.
The eWolf was developed through a partnership among 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.
In addition to the ESS, ABB supplied its award-winning Onboard DC Grid™ power distribution platform for optimized energy use, the ABB Ability™ Marine Diagnostic system for continuous preventive and predictive monitoring of equipment, and ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot products to enhance safety and reduce crew workload. Pilot Vision situational awareness provides 360-degree visibility from the pilot’s station, while Pilot Control enables maneuvering support. ABB’s scope of supply also covered transformers, propulsion motors, azimuthing thrusters, and low-voltage switchboards alongside design support, engineering, project management, and commissioning.