Foss Maritime Company is switching its vessels from low sulfur diesel fuel to ultra low sulfur diesel fuel.

Foss’s fuel switch to ultra low sulfur diesel from low sulfur diesel will reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by about 9 tons per year in the Seattle/Puget Sound region and 8 tons per year in the Columbia and Snake Rivers area including Portland. Use of ultra low sulfur diesel by Foss will also reduce particulate matter by about 0.7 tons per year for Seattle/Puget Sound and 0.6 tons per year for Columbia Snake River.

In March, Foss gained attention when it announced the development of the first true hybrid tug. The vessel is now under construction in the company’s Rainier, OR, shipyard and is scheduled for launch in late summer 2008.

Except in California, where the state already mandates use of ULSDF, most Foss vessels have been fueled by low sulfur diesel. Foss will immediately switch to ULSDF for the remainder of its fleet, except in rare cases of refueling in remote locations where ultra low is not available.