Washington Governor selects Eastern Shipbuilding to build hybrid-electric ferries

Washington Governor Bob Fergusonchose the $714.5 million bid from Florida-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group to build three new 160-vehicle hybrid-electric ferries.

Washington State Ferries (WSF), a division of the Washington State Department of Transportation, will move forward with the contracting process, following the first competitive bid for ferry construction in more than 25 years.

Two shipyards submitted bids. Governor Ferguson said Eastern’s bid was 6% lower than WSF’s own engineer’s estimate, and significantly lower than the other bidder.

“We’re restoring domestic service to pre-pandemic levels years ahead of schedule, improving crew retention, and soon will bring our first hybrid-electric vessel into service,” Governor Ferguson said. “After careful consideration and conversations with legislative leaders, I believe Eastern is the best option to build these critically important vessels at a fair cost to our taxpayers.”

The shipyard bid is only part of the new build process. There is an additional approximately $150m for the first vessel for owner-furnished equipment, construction management, WSF crew training, and risk contingencies.

This brings the cost of the first vessel to approximately $405m, the second to