Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Panama City, Fla., announced it has received the Notice to Proceed from Washington State Ferries (WSF) to build two 160-vehicle, hybrid-electric ferries with an option for a third, for the state of Washington. The contract follows the first competitive bid for ferry construction in more than 25 years for the United States’s largest ferry system.
Designed by Elliott Bay Design Group, Seattle, the hybrid/electric vessels will measure 409'6"x83'2"x24'6" with a draft of 16'-6". They will be certified to transport 160 standard-sized passenger vehicles and 1,500 passengers.
Each vessel will be powered primarily by water-cooled batteries supplied by ABB, with diesel engines installed for backup power. The ferries will be able to achieve a speed of 17 knots at full load and are designed to interface with all existing WSF dock facilities.
The new ferries are scheduled to be delivered to WSF from 2028 and will operate on the Mukilteo-Clinton and Seattle-Bremerton routes.
“This is an exciting milestone in bringing new hybrid-electric ferries to our fleet,” David Sowers, Washington State Ferries’ electrification program administrator, said in a statement announcing the new deal. “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.”
WSF, a division of the Washington State Department of Transportation and the largest ferry system in the nation, safely and efficiently carries millions of people a year through some of the most majestic scenery in the world, the statement said.
Eastern was one of two companies that bid on the new ferry construction program, competing against in-state shipbuilder Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Freeland, Wash. On July 1, Gov. Bob Ferguson, D.-Wash., announced he had selected Eastern to build the ferries, marking the first time since the 1980s that WSF had ordered new vessels from an out-of-state builder.
“We are honored to move forward with Washington State Ferries on this historic initiative,” said Joey D’Isernia, Eastern’s CEO. “We are deeply committed to delivering world-class vessels that reflect the best of American shipbuilding, innovation, and environmental stewardship.”
Eastern Shipbuilding Group has a proven track record in delivering complex auto passenger vessels, including the Staten Island Ferries and the auto/passenger ferry Long Island, delivered in 2024. Founded nearly 50 years ago, ESG is an American-owned shipbuilder that has delivered over 350 advanced commercial and government vessels and achieved a 99% on-schedule delivery rate for the past 20 years, shipyard officials said.
