The shipping industry, like most motor-driven transportation, is far from green. Ships “burn a thick, dirty sludge called bunker fuel while at sea and slurp diesel to keep the lights and air conditioning running while in port.” Seattle’s Foss Maritime is launching “the Prius of tugboats” this month, calling it the world’s first hybrid tug as it uses batteries in addition to a diesel engine. Tugs run at full power only 7% of the time, and Foss’ engineers looked to similar situations for inspiration, including switching locomotives and underwater drilling rigs. Their new system also uses a smaller diesel engine than usual. Foss was founded in 1889 with one used rowboat, repainted and sold by Thea Foss. She became the inspiration for Tugboat Annie.