Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has announced the selection of a $714.5 million proposal from Eastern Shipbuilding Group (Florida) to build three new hybrid-electric ferries, each with a capacity of 160 vehicles.
“We are restoring our ferry services to pre-pandemic levels years ahead of schedule, improving crew retention, and will soon launch our first hybrid-electric vessel,” said Governor Ferguson. “After thorough evaluation and discussions with legislative leaders, I am confident that Eastern offers the best solution at a fair price for our taxpayers.”
Washington State Ferries (WSF) Deputy Assistant Secretary Steve Nevey added:
“Following the governor’s directive, we are focused on service improvements, and we are pleased to be restoring additional vessels on three routes while advancing the construction of new ferries."
The contract follows a year-long process of shipyard prequalification and competitive bidding. Two shipyards participated, with Eastern’s bid coming in 6% below WSF’s internal engineering estimate and significantly lower than the competing bid.
The project cost also includes additional expenses: approximately $150 million for the first vessel will cover owner-supplied equipment, construction management, WSF crew training, and contingency reserves. This brings the total estimated cost of the first ferry to $405 million, the second to $360 million, and the third to $325 million, as contingency risks decrease with each build.
WSF continues to prioritize workforce recruitment, retention, and training to stabilize operations. The budget signed by the governor allocates more than $39 million to support hiring and workforce development initiatives. WSF’s apprenticeship program is already showing positive results, enabling the agency to hire enough qualified crew members to replace those retiring, helping to strengthen and sustain the team.
