Florida-headquartered Eastern Shipbuilding Group has obtained Notice to Proceed from Washington State Ferries (WSF) to build two hybrid-electric ferries for the Evergreen State, with an option for an additional 160-vehicle unit.
Illustration only; Wenatchee arrives at Vigor September 2023. Courtesy of the Washington State Department of Transport via Flickr
This development is understood to follow the first competitive bid for ferry construction in more than 25 years for what is hailed as the United States’ largest ferry system.
As disclosed, the hybrid-electric unit will feature an overall length of around 124.8 meters, a width of 25.35 meters, a hull depth of almost 7.5 meters and a draft of 5 meters. All units will be able to carry 160 standard passenger vehicles and 1,500 passengers.
According to David Sowers, Washington State Ferries’ Electrification Program Administrator, the vessels
