Two yards bid to build WSF hybrid-electric ferries
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Back in October last year Washington State Ferries (WSF) said that three shipyards<\/a> \u2014 Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Florida, Philly Shipyard in Pennsylvania and Nichols Brothers Boat Builders on Whidbey Island, Wash. \u2014 had prequalified to bid build up to to five new 160-car hybrid-electric ferries.<\/p>\n On Monday, said WSDOT deputy secretary Steve Nevey, head of Washington State Ferries, \u201cwe opened the bids.\u201d Two were received, from Eastern and from Nichols.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re working to evaluate the bid documents and supporting information before we award,\u201d Nevey wrote yesterday in his regular weekly update. \u201cThis is an exciting milestone in our shipbuilding mission towards a more reliable and clean future.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce the contract is signed, the shipyard will contribute their expertise to complete the design. This should take about a year. Construction will follow. We are also offering incentives for early delivery \u2026I look forward to the next steps in this process and getting work started on new vessels.\u201d<\/p>\n Nevey did not disclose the bid numbers, but the Seattle Times<\/em> is reporting<\/a> that, \u201ctwo days after its bid to build a new hybrid-electric ferry came in nearly $90 million over an out-of-state competitor, Washington-based Nichols Brothers Boat Builders urged Gov. Bob Ferguson on Wednesday to let both companies build the state\u2019s new electric ferry fleet.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the Seattle Times<\/em>, Nichols CEO Gavin Higgins wrote Gov Ferguson saying that in a \u201cbest case scenario\u201d the state could order two ferries each from Eastern and Nichols and still be within the state budget of $1.27 billion for up to five boats.<\/p>\n \u201cNichols estimated one boat would cost $338.6 million,\u201d says the Seattle Times <\/em>report, \u201dEastern estimated the cost at $251.3 million, closer matching the state\u2019s estimate of $256.8 million.\u201d<\/p>\n The post Two yards bid to build WSF hybrid-electric ferries<\/a> appeared first on Marine Log<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n