Port Unveils Tugboat Rebuilt to Cut Pollution

In front of Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and environmental officials, the port of Los Angeles unveiled an experimental tugboat fitted with emission-reducing engines that has significantly reduced the amount of pollution the boat releases into the air, a port spokeswoman said.

The tugboat, the Patcona II, had four of its engines replaced with ultra-low-emission diesel engines, said port spokeswoman Julia Nagano.

The retrofitted boat emits 69% less nitrogen oxide than old tugboat models, port and environmental officials said. Nitrogen oxide helps form ozone, one of the most harmful ingredients of smog, officials said. The boat also expels 94% less carbon monoxide and burns 22% less fuel.

Harbor tugs and other marine vessels emit twice as many smog-forming emissions as all of the region’s power plants, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. About 75 tugboats operate in the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, releasing about 1.6 tons of smog-forming pollutants per day, AQMD spokesman Bill Kelly said.

The Patcona II’s retrofitting cost $640,000 and was funded by the port, the air quality district, the Environmental Protection Agency, Valley Detroit Diesel Allison and the boat’s owner and operator, Connolly-Pacific Co.