By Paul E. Stevens, President & CEO, Marine Resources Group and Chairman, Hawaiian Tug & Barge and Young Brothers, Ltd.

For centuries, the basics of tugboat operations in ports around the world have remained essentially the same. Recently, there is an increasing need for more powerful and nimble tugs to assist larger and larger ships, as well as improved energy efficiencies and to lessen our impact on the natural environment. While power and efficiency could be seen as conflicting goals, the innovative use of technology is assisting in such a convergence

For more than 100 years, Hawaiian Tug & Barge and Young Brothers, Ltd. (HTB/YB) have assisted large vessels safely to their berths and transporting freight between the Hawaiian Islands. Although the job has remained the same, our tools have evolved over time. At HTB/YB, we utilize technology to work smarter and improve the safety and efficiency of our operations.

A New Chapter in Technology Innovation

Over the years HTB/YB has introduced new technologies that have increased our tugboat capabilities. Improved maneuverability and power have improved our operational safety for our assists of the large vessels calling at our Hawaiian ports. New and more efficient propulsion systems, hull designs and engines dramatically improved the performance and energy efficiency of our vessels.

The groundwork has been laid, but we believe it is now imperative that companies such as ours find ways to achieve even higher energy efficiency levels. For HTB/YB, this means continuing and redoubling our efforts on technologies that not only improve our safety performance, but also increase our energy efficiency. Improvements in generating, transporting and using energy will be the best way businesses such as ours can reduce global warming.

Environmental Stewardship as a Core Company Value

HTB/YB has a set of core values centering on the safety of our people and stewardship of the environment. It is both daunting and inspiring to acknowledge that we all are impacting our environment sometimes in ways we did not even realize until recently. At HTB/YB, we believe we must recognize and address the negative impact of our work through effective and sustainable solutions. There is a big difference between being environmentally aware and being environmentally proactive. At HTB/YB, we have embarked on a new journey with specific environmental milestones that we believe will result in a sustainable business model and a safer, cleaner environment.

Some of the key tenants of our environmental policy are a commitment to operate our business based on responsible management through continuous environmental performance improvement, and efficient natural resource use. Also, in recognition of our obligation, both locally and globally, to present and future generations, we are committed to participate in the development of sound policies and solutions to environmental problems within our industry and within our state.

Finding Environmental Solutions through Innovative Technology

HTB/YB has long had a tradition of technological innovation and creative problem solving. It is therefore only natural that we would apply these attributes to environmental solutions in our industry. We are not waiting for regulations to catch up to innovations. At HTB/YB we feel regulatory compliance is a bare minimum and is not an appropriate goal.

Fuel Efficient Engines

One obvious positive benefit of EPA regulations is that it drives improved fuel efficiencies and lower emissions in the engines that power our vessels. This trend will accelerate in the future as engine technologies and afterburn treatment technologies expand and improve. At HTB/YB we always purchase the cleanest engine available when we build a new tugboat. As we continue to retire tugboats and replace them with new state-of-the-art vessels our emissions profile will continue to improve. We support the efforts of regulatory bodies and engine manufacturers to push the boundaries of the possible to build cleaner more efficient engines

Higher Capacity Barges

Young Brothers is currently building four new barges to replace existing vessels. These barges are larger and have a much more fuel efficient hull form than the retired barges, carrying 40% more cargo than the smaller barges they will replace. Because we built these barges for maximum fuel efficiency, they will carry this increased cargo load with no increase in fuel consumed. Because these barges can accommodate cargo growth without increasing the number of round trips, per cargo ton of air emissions and fuel will be significantly reduced.

Improved Propulsion Systems

Another way to achieve fuel efficiency is to improve our tug boats’ propulsion system. Beginning in 2003 we began converting tugboats from traditional propellers to a system of nozzles and high-efficiency propellers. This conversion resulted in a 10% reduction in fuel consumption and increased speed. We are continually experimenting with new designs, technologies and operating enhancements to enhance fuel efficiency.

Shoreside Electrical Power

We also improved energy efficiency on the land side of our operations. When our tugboats return to the dock we provide electrical outlets for our boats to "plug in." drawing power from the electrical grid to run the machinery rather than consuming diesel fuel.

Solar Power

It is our belief at HTB/YB that it is imperative that we find creative ways to incorporate renewable energy resources in our operations. The State of Hawaii has one continuous resource: the sun. Through the efforts of companies like SunPower Corporation of California and Hoku Scientific of Hawaii a wide array of commercial applications for solar power now exist. One of our most innovative technological projects is to utilize photovoltaic solar cells to provide power for our Young Brothers Honolulu facility. This year we will install solar panels on our large maintenance shed in order to provide power to the facility.

Hybrid Tug

A sister company of HTB/YB, Foss Maritime Company, is currently constructing the world’s first low emissions hybrid tugboat. We will be evaluating this ground-breaking design for possible adaptation for use in the HTB fleet as we want to continue introducing new cleaner and more efficient technologies in our Hawaiian home.

Our Industry is Moving Ahead

We are hopeful that some of the innovative technological solutions we have incorporated in our operations will spur our industry forward to even more innovative designs and creative ways to reduce emissions. However, even new technologies and renewable energy sources will not get us where we need to be without energy conservation. We are stepping up our efforts in this regard and we will continue to focus on conservation in the future. We can quantify fuel savings, and while the emissions reduction is difficult to calculate in terms of dollars, we know that reducing all of our emissions does have great value to us as a company.

We are extremely fortunate to conduct our business in the beautiful and environmentally unique Hawaiian Islands. This privilege obligates us to the highest degree of care and concern for our environmental footprint. Our employees all live and work in and around the ports of Hawaii adding an even greater amount of personal accountability and concern for the environmental consequences of our business.

We realize that we must find creative solutions to the difficult challenges that lie ahead. Our industry has a long proud tradition and it is time we focus our collective problem solving towards developing substantive solutions to address the serious environmental issues facing our planet.

About the Author

Paul E. Stevens is President & CEO, Marine Resources Group and Chairman, Hawaiian Tug & Barge and Young Brothers, Ltd. (HTB/YB). HTB/YB are Hawaii’s leading tug and barge transportation companies, serving the Hawaiian Islands and the mid-Pacific region since 1900. HTB/YB operates a fleet of 14 tugs and 10 barges within State of Hawaii waters