Work is now getting underway on Washington State's first new ferry in more than a decade, a long awaited addition to an aging fleet that carries commuters and travelers across the Puget Sound. There is one notable twist, however: the vessel is not being built in Washington. According to FOX 13 Seattle, the ship is being constructed on the other side of the country, in Florida.
The Eastern Shipbuilding Group, based in Panama City, Florida, is building a series of three hybrid electric passenger ferries for the state. On the day the story was reported, the company, together with Washington State Ferries, hosted a steel cutting ceremony to mark the official start of construction on the project.
The first vessel will be a substantial ship. It has a capacity of 160 cars and will be the first in what officials describe as a new generation of vessels for the state ferry system. The move is intended to begin modernizing a fleet that has struggled to keep up with demand in recent years.
The contract behind the project is significant. Eastern Shipbuilding was awarded a 175 million dollar contract to build the ferries. The company secured that work after outbidding the Whidbey Island based Nichols, a local shipbuilder that had been in the running for the job.
The decision to send the work out of state has drawn attention. FOX 13 first reported on the local company being outbid last summer, and at the time some observers raised major concerns that local businesses cannot stay competitive because it is so expensive to do business in Washington. The outcome has renewed that debate over how the state awards large public contracts.
Officials at the ceremony framed the ferry as an investment in the region's future. As one speaker put it, the presence of those attending underscored the importance of the project not only to the company and its community, but to the many travelers who will one day rely on the vessel for safe and reliable service across the Puget Sound.
For riders waiting on the new boats, the timeline stretches several years into the future. The vessels are scheduled to be delivered between 2030 and 2032, meaning it will still be some time before the new ferries enter service on Washington's waterways.