Washington State Ferries (WSF) received two bids for the construction of a new class of hybrid-electric ferries, part of a broader effort to modernize the state’s aging fleet and restore full service.
The two bidders are Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Panama City, Fla., and Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Freeland, Wash. A third prequalified yard, Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Philadelphia, did not submit a proposal.
Eastern Shipbuilding’s bid estimates the cost of the first vessel at $251.3 million and proposes a total cost of $714.5 million for three vessels. The Nichols Brothers' proposal pegs the first boat at $338.6 million, with a total bid for three ferries exceeding $1 billion. The state’s estimate for the first vessel is $256.8 million, placing Eastern’s bid slightly below the estimate and Nichols’ bid 32% above it.
WSF said the lower bid does not guarantee a contract award. WSF officials noted they are reviewing the bids for compliance and evaluating supporting information before making a decision. “Price is only one factor, and no assumptions should be made about awarding the contract,” WSF stated in a summary released May 12.
WSF deputy assistant secretary John Vezina said the agency hopes to award the contract within one to two weeks and sign by the end of June.
The contract will support construction of new 160-vehicle, hybrid-electric ferries. Each vessel will be capable of carrying 1,500 passengers and be powered primarily by water-cooled batteries supplied by ABB. Diesel power will remain onboard as backup, with each vessel designed to carry up to 55,000 gals.
Ferry terminals are being outfitted with charging systems that will allow each vessel to recharge in approximately 20 minutes, which is the average turnaround time between runs. Terminal work will begin in Seattle in 2026 and is expected to conclude by 2029.
WSF said the five terminals scheduled for initial electrification include Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, Clinton, and Kingston, and are expected to receive power through agreements with Seattle City Light and Puget Sound Energy.
The new ferries are part of a long-term plan to electrify the entire fleet and reduce diesel consumption. WSF currently burns approximately 19 million gals. of diesel annually.
The Washington Legislature has allocated $1.3 billion over the next six to eight years for the construction of new vessels and installation of charging infrastructure. New ferries are overdue to stabilize the state’s aging and sometimes unreliable fleet. So far, the Legislature has committed a total of $1.68 billion toward electrification efforts, including retrofitting six existing ferries and building 16 new hybrid-electric vessels.
WSF executive director Steve Nevey described the bid opening as a “major step forward” toward modernizing the fleet. “These 160-car ferries will run primarily on electric power once terminals are outfitted with charging infrastructure, cutting emissions by 90% compared to the vessels they’ll replace,” Nevey said in a LinkedIn post.
While Eastern and Nichols submitted bids, longtime WSF shipbuilder Vigor Shipyards did not. Vigor has built vessels for WSF since the late 1990s but is currently converting the Wenatchee, a 460' Jumbo Mark II-class ferry, to plug-in hybrid-electric power.
Gov. Bob Ferguson, who took office in January, announced in March that the hybrid conversion program would be put on hold until after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Wenatchee conversion is expected to be completed by early summer. If successful, WSF said it may revisit the conversion program in 2026.
Once a contract is signed for the newbuilds, design work on the 160-vehicle ferries will begin, followed by construction. WSF is also offering incentives for early delivery. If timelines hold, the first two vessels could enter service in 2029, operating primarily on the Seattle-Bremerton and Clinton-Mukilteo routes.
WorkBoat will continue to monitor developments as WSF moves forward with this contract.
