Pioneers of innovative, high-powered ship assist tugboats, Crowley Maritime Corporation will lead the next generation of industry sustainability by building and operating eWolf, the first all-electric powered harbor tugboat that can complete a job without expending a drop of fuel.
The 82-foot vessel with 70 tons of bollard pull advances Crowley and the maritime industry’s efforts toward sustainability and decarbonization. Over the first ten years of its use, the operation of the new eTug will reduce 178 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx), 2.5 tons of diesel particulate matter, and 3,100 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) versus a conventional tug. The electric tug will replace one that consumes more than 30,000 gallons of diesel per year. The eTug will operate at the Port of San Diego’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal and will be operational by mid-2023. crowley.com
GCI recently completed the first marine survey for the AU-Aleutians Fiber Project, which will deliver high-speed broadband connectivity to some of the most remote communities in the nation. The survey, conducted by Benthic GeoScience, an Alaska-based company and crew, marks another significant step towards the completion of the multi-year, multimillion-dollar project. With a crew of sixteen—including five ship crew members, ten survey crew members, and one GCI representative—Support Vessels of Alaska repurposed a former crabber and fish tender called the Norseman II and set out from Homer on May 12. Since departing, the survey team has successfully mapped a route from Mill Bay in Kodiak through Unimak Pass, joining up with a 2017 survey that ends in Unalaska. gci.com
The Alaska Army National Guard Divestiture Program handed over its 37th site, a Federal Scout Readiness Center built during the Cold War, to Sivuqaq Incorporated, the village corporation for Gambell, in May.
The St. Lawrence Island community will continue to use the building as the Native Village of Gambell Office and headquarters for their search and rescue operations, but now the building belongs to them. “The building is older than me,” says Kristi Apangalook, tribal coordinator for the Native Village of Gambell, who mentioned the possibilities of now being able to paint and spruce up the building.
The divestiture of armories began in 2011 due to federal regulation dictating disposal of government property when it is in excess of government needs. Rural communities which have received divested armories have turned the buildings into public infrastructure for safety and emergency operations, community centers, classrooms, and other utilization options that benefit local Alaskans. ak.ng.mil
DiamondGrid is now an approved vendor for Ace Hardware. “We are pleased to join Ace Hardware as a vendor to their many locations in the United States, Canada, and around the world,” said John Horjes. “Our EDI system is currently ‘on-boarding’ with Ace, and we expect to be available for purchase within thirty days.”
DiamondGrid is an 100 percent recycled polypropylene surface, engineered for load of up to 100 tons per square foot, that can be used for driveways, hardstands, and shed flooring, and has been proven for heavy static and high-frequency traffic load for mining, construction, and agriculture.
Ace Hardware Corporation is the second-largest dealer-owned cooperative in the United States. The co-op pools buying and promotions for its 5,100 local hardware, home center, and lumber stores. diamondgrid.com | acehardware.com
Bean’s Cafe, a grass-roots organization that focuses on feeding the hungry and homeless, served its millionth meal during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meals have been distributed at emergency shelter sites, non-congregant shelter sites, and to hungry children and families throughout the city. “In just over sixteen months, we’ve served a million meals to the hungry and homeless in Anchorage. That is a huge milestone,” says Scott Lingle, chief operating officer. “The pandemic changed everything, and we had to adapt and quickly change our model to best meet the needs of our community.” beanscafe.org