We are excited to share some great news! Marine Group Boat Works, a member of the South County Economic Development Council (SCEDC), has successfully electrified its diesel-powered tugboat.
Marine Group Boat Works (MGBW), a boatbuilding and repair company operating a shipyard in Chula Vista, Calif., completed the electrification of its own diesel-powered tugboat MARCO V. The conversion of MARCO V involved outfitting the tug with a fully integrated electric operating system, battery and charging system—offering comparable horsepower and torque to its diesel counterparts and continuous, emission-free power to run the tug. On average, the yard utilizes the tug approximately 80 hours a month.
“Sustainability is truly at the forefront of our operations. We don’t just meet environmental regulations, we exceed them,” said MGBW President Todd Roberts. “Being the first to convert a truckable tug to electric meant there was no one to ask, and this was a highly complex repower. Through extensive engineering and close collaboration between component manufacturers and our expert team of mechanics, we navigated through it.”
MARCO V is a small harbor tug used in the towing of vessels to and from the boat lift piers and docks and transporting vessel crews prior to their vessels being hauled or after launch. More than 2,000 hours of MGBW labor went towards the removal of the existing engines and installation of the new system.
For more on this story please visits Marine Group Boat Works here.
