Captain Dan Salas has spent his whole life on the water.
At just 12 years old, he started working on the docks of San Pedro, California. Throughout his career, he went from tugboat captain to marine life guide, and eventually founded Harbor Breeze Cruises in 1990.
“Today, Harbor Breeze Cruises offers more whale watching tours than any other operator in the region,” reads a statement on the organization’s website.
“Whether it’s spotting a super pod of dolphins or witnessing the majesty of blue whales, our guests leave with memories that last a lifetime.”
Until now, guests haven’t just left with their memories. They’ve also left a hefty carbon footprint with every trip taken out into Pacific waters.
According to a study in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism, a sightseeing trip on a diesel boat can emit roughly the same carbon emissions as a single person driving 186 miles in a standard passenger vehicle.
That’s why, for the past five years, Captain Salas has been working with the Port of Los Angeles, the Port of Long Beach, and the California Air Resources Board to fund a new kind of vessel.
“This is called the El Escudo,” he said in an interview with ABC 7, pointing proudly to his 180-foot boat. “It’s the world’s first parallel hybrid.”
“This has been a technological advancement that we never — in my lifetime — thought I would actually see. The air quality and what we’re doing is setting the tone for things to come in the future.”
According to Baird Maritime, the zero-emission boat can carry 350 passengers and reach greater speeds than a diesel-powered alternative.
“The vessel offers four distinct operational modes: conventional diesel propulsion, fully electric propulsion, underway battery charging, and stationary shoreside battery charging,” the maritime news outlet wrote in a press release.
“The propulsion package allows the vessel to achieve significant emissions reductions while maintaining performance and efficiency for sailing on longer routes.”
For Captain Salas, the El Escudo is a way for him to continue building his business without harming his first love: The ocean.
“This is a gift back for my life here on the ocean, to give it back with clean air and a clean future,” he said.
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Header image via All American Marine
