Foss’ Green Assist™ Hybrid Tug Joins Foss Maritime’s Fleet in Long Beach and Los Angeles

First True Hybrid Tug Built by Foss Maritime Welcomed to California by Port Commissioners, Governor Schwarzenegger’s Office

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Friday, January 23, around 300 leaders from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, the state of California, and Foss Maritime Company gathered with business, government and media representatives to welcome the world’s first true hybrid tug, Foss’ Green Assist™, to southern California.

“The hybrid tug is the culmination of a concept that began at Foss and succeeded because our commitment to the environment is rooted deeply in our culture”

At an unveiling ceremony for the hybrid tug, named Carolyn Dorothy, Foss presented special awards of recognition to the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District to thank them for their generous support of the development of the Green Assist™.

Among the attendees were representatives from California State Government, including Governor Schwarzenegger’s office, Senators Diane Feinstein and Jenny Oropeza’s offices, and Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal.

“The hybrid tug is the culmination of a concept that began at Foss and succeeded because our commitment to the environment is rooted deeply in our culture,” said Gary Faber, Foss President and COO. “We were very fortunate to have found like-minded partners who believed in our vision, and we are grateful to the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.”

Additional speeches were delivered by Billie Greer, Director of the Los Angeles Regional Office of Gov. Schwarzenegger, Long Beach Port Commissioner Mario Cordero, S. David Freeman, Commission President of the Port of Los Angeles, and Dr. Henry Hogo, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer of the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

To help defray the added costs of development and construction of the first hybrid tug, both the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles contributed funding.

The Green Assist Hybrid Tug was built by Foss Maritime, a Seattle-based marine services company specializing in worldwide marine transportation and logistics. Foss partnered with Aspin Kemp & Associates and their affiliate XeroPoint to develop the unique hybrid power management system.

The Green Assist Hybrid Tug is expected to significantly reduce emissions compared with the operating duty cycle of the conventional Dolphin tugs in San Pedro Harbor, including a reduction in nitrogen oxide, particulate emissions, sulfur dioxide and carbon emissions. This exceeds the EPA’s Tier 2 emissions requirement for marine engines.

The hybrid tug design was awarded the EPA’s Clean Air Excellence Award for Clean Air Technology in 2008. Along with less pollution, the Hybrid Tug offers improved fuel economy and lower maintenance costs. It is also quieter than its Dolphin sister tugs, when operating on batteries that can be recharged using shore power.

About Foss

Founded in 1889, Seattle-based Foss Maritime, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marine Resources Group, offers a complete range of maritime services and project management to customers across the Pacific Rim, Europe, South America and around the globe. The company has harbor services and transportation operations in all major U.S. West Coast ports, including the Columbia and Snake River system. With one of the largest fleets of tugs and barges on the American West Coast, Foss operates two shipyards and offers worldwide marine transportation, emphasizing safety, environmental responsibility and high-quality service. See www.foss.com for more information.