Florida builder receives notice to proceed with construction of new hybrid vessels for Washington State Ferries

Panama City, Florida-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) has received the notice to proceed from Washington State Ferries (WSF) to build two 160-vehicle hybrid-electric ferries with an option for an additional vessel.

"These vessels will not only incorporate state-of-the-art technologies in shoreside charging and battery storage to cut diesel-generated emissions, but they will also provide dependable service for the communities who rely on us every day," said David Sowers, WSF's Electrification Program Administrator.

The contract for the new hybrid ferries was awarded to ESG a year-long process of advertising, pre-qualifying shipyards, and answering shipyard requests for clarification.

Two shipyards submitted bids, and ESG’s bid was six per cent lower than WSF’s own engineer’s estimate, and significantly lower than the other bidder, the office of Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said earlier.

The vessels will each have an LOA of 409.5 feet (124.8 metres), a beam of 83 feet (25 metres), and a hull depth of 24.5 feet (7.47 metres). They will be certified to transport 160 standard-sized passenger vehicles and 1,500 passengers.

With a draft of 16.5 feet (5.03 metres), the ferries will achieve a speed of 17 knots at full load and will be capable of interfacing with all existing WSF dock facilities.