Renewable Energy Leader's Forum: Susan Hayman, Foss Maritime

Leaders in the transition toward a new energy future are not only found in companies developing innovative technologies, but also in those choosing to incorporate these technologies into their business or organization. 

This week the Renewable Energy Leader's Forum features a pioneer in the transportation industry, Foss Maritime.  Foss Maritime owns and operates the world's first hybrid tugboat.

Here is our interview with Susan Hayman, Foss Maritime's Vice President, Environmental and Governmental Affairs:

PROFILE

Where are you headquartered?

Seattle, Washington.

How long has your company been around?

Since 1889.

Public or Private?

Private.

Sales and operating revenues last fiscal year?

We don't disclose this information.

Profits last fiscal year?

We don't disclose this information.

Company website:  www.foss.com
Contact info:  Susan Hayman, Vice President, Environmental and Governmental Affairs

INTELLIGENCE

Tell us about your company's main technology?

Foss is one of the largest coastal tug and barge operating companies on the West Coast with worldwide operations and two shipyards. The company has always been known for technological innovations and environmental stewardship which drove us to seek effective solutions to reduce the negative environmental impacts of our business. 

Tugboats are required to perform a wide variety of functions across the entire power spectrum, in other words, they have a highly variable duty cycle. These boats very rarely sustain continued operations at or even near the high power levels required for optimum engine performance. In fact, they operate at low engine load the majority of the time. 

Because the boats’ engines are not operating at their design point for efficiency, the specific fuel consumption for these engines is high when operating at low loads. Foss believed hybrid technology offered an elegant solution to this problem and teamed with Aspin Kemp and Associates (AKA) to develop a hybrid solution for our harbor tugboat fleet.

Hybrid systems take advantage of duty cycle variability to provide a significant increase in plant efficiency. The hybrid system on our hybrid tugboat, Carolyn Dorothy, combines smaller main diesel engines (compared to a conventional vessel of equal capability) with electric propulsion motor/generators.

This system permits engines to shut down when not required, keeps engines at or near their most efficient design points when running, and engages the electric motors to provide the difference between available engine power and required power across the speed range. Energy stored in batteries is used to meet low-end power requirements and bridge transient periods when required, but engines are not yet at speed.

Foss has been operating the hybrid Carolyn Dorothy for more than one year and over that time the main engines are shut down about 50% of the time. In a conventional tug, two main engines would be operating continuously. 

The hybrid system realizes the multiple benefits of reduced fuel consumption and attendant emissions reductions as well as lower maintenance costs and noise reduction. Initial testing confirms particulate matter, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides are all reduced by 50% or more. Actual operating results show fuel savings of about 25%.

The Carolyn Dorothy has been successfully operating in Southern California since January 2009 providing Green Assists™ to the largest vessels in the world calling the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

What is unique about your technology?

Foss has built and operates the world’s first and currently only hybrid tugboat. We are beginning the process to retrofit an existing tugboat, Campbell Foss, with a conventional propulsion system to a hybrid system. 

Our hybrid tugboat, Carolyn Dorothy, was built at Foss’ shipyard in Rainier, Oregon. This same shipyard will also complete the conversion work on the Campbell Foss. This hybrid system is appropriate for any marine vessel such as ferries, supply and salvage boats, or any other vessel having a variable duty cycle.

How does your company compare to its main competitors?

Although there are several other companies endeavoring to develop other hybrid tug designs, the system developed by Foss and AKA is currently the only system that has been successfully deployed.

VISION

What are the guiding principles of your company?

Foss has a stated, written and continually reinforced set of core values, centering on the safety of our people and stewardship of the environment. We have a corporate goal of “zero trace” and our vision is that someday our business will have no adverse impact on our environment. We have a robust 14001 program coupled with a commitment to operate our business based on responsible environmental management and continuous improvement.

What do you think is the role of government when it comes to growing the renewable and clean energy sector?

The Carolyn Dorothy is not just an example of a company doing the right thing; this boat also represents the successful fruition of a public/private partnership. The San Pedro Bay Ports have consistently demonstrated environmental leadership in choosing to “kickstart” projects that are commercially viable but benefit from an additional capital infusion to offset some of the initial capital costs.  Foss received some funding from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles as well as the South Coast Air Quality management district to cover a portion of the incremental capital costs and testing.

Political will is built by sharing a common vision. Public funding has a role to play in the deployment of new technologies as has been shown throughout history. By sharing a common vision of positive environmental progress, business and government working together can accomplish great things.

The Carolyn Dorothy has exceeded Foss’ expectations in all areas including emissions reductions, performance and cost savings. Foss continues to believe that hybridization is a cost effective solution to reduce all forms of air pollution from our tugs. As with most new technologies, design improvements and optimization opportunities will continue to reduce the initial capital outlay and obviate any need for further public support.

When it comes to your business/product, what inspires you?

The fact that this hybrid technology reduces all forms of pollution is a fact that inspires us to keep searching for new innovative ways to reduce our environmental impact. We believe the hybrid tug is a significant step forward while recognizing it is not the only answer.

The fact that Foss made the commitment and built this tug has stimulated a new level of dialogue and debate on environmental issues within our industry. If we can focus our collective problem solving towards developing solutions of substance to address the serious environmental issues facing our planet we will have accomplished something worthwhile.

What is your overall outlook of the renewable energy sector over the next 3 years? Is it: very positive -- positive -- neutral -- negative -- very negative? Please elaborate if you would like.

I feel in general the overall outlook for the renewable energy sector is very positive.  However, transportation companies such as ours that depend on high horsepower assets will still be dependent on fossil fuels for the foreseeable future.

Susan Hayman's Bio

A 1980 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Susan holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. Her career includes seagoing work for Exxon Shipping as well as railroad experience for CSX. She also served in domestic and international positions with American President Lines where she became operations vice president for Europe, area manager for Central Europe and global vice president for Port and Container Security. After being called to active duty in the United States Navy in 2002, Susan returned to APL as global vice president for Environmental Affairs.

Formerly Vice President, Health, Safety, Quality and Environment, Susan was appointed to her current position in July 2008. She is responsible for strategic planning, including environmental initiatives. In her previous job, Susan spearheaded the development of the hybrid-powered, low-emissions tug, which entered service early in 2009.