Date:  Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Contact: Marta Coursey, Director of Communications, 206-515-3918

SEATTLE – Washington State Department of Transportation’s Ferries Division (WSF) announced today, Oct. 13, that it is awarding a contract to Todd Pacific Shipyards to build two additional 64-car ferries.

Todd Shipyards submitted a $114 million bid on Thursday, October 8 to build two more 64-car ferries. With the contract award, Todd will begin constructing the second and third ferries in this new class of vessels. WSF awarded a contract to Todd to construct the first 64-car ferry in December 2008. That vessel is under construction and scheduled to go into service on the Port Townsend/Keystone route in late-summer 2010.

“This contract award is expected to sustain nearly 400 family wage jobs.” said. Gov. Chris Gregoire. “These locally built ferries will improve the reliability of auto-passenger ferry service to the communities they will serve.”

The timeline for vessel construction is approximately 20 months each for the second and third vessels. WSF must exercise the option to construct the third vessel in the contract, the fourth overall, no later than May 31, 2011. The fourth vessel would be either a 64-car ferry or 144-car ferry depending on the availability of funds.

“This is an important next step in the process of replacing our aging fleet and improving the safety of our ferry system.” Washington Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond said. “While the question remains on how to fund the ferry system for the long term, I am pleased that we are able to proceed with construction of these much needed ferries.”

These additional 64-car ferries will be similar in design to the one currently under construction with capacity for up to 750 passengers. The next steps include a signed contract and contract security returned from Todd Shipyards. Once those documents are received, the state will issue a notice to proceed with construction.

"I greatly appreciate the Governor’s leadership as we move forward on the ambitious construction of these new vessels." said David Moseley, Assistant Secretary, WSDOT Ferries Division. "Constructing these ferries brings us closer to creating a ferry system that meets the needs of our customers throughout Puget Sound.”

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