TODAY: WSF to Publish Key Parts of ‘Invitation to Bid’ for 5 New Hybrid Boats

Thursday, May 30, 2024 10:55 a.m.

This afternoon, WSF will mark an important and exciting milestone with the publication of volumes I and II of an “Invitation to Bid” (IFB), inviting shipbuilders in and out of Washington to submit qualifications to build five hybrid-electric vessels,” Dana Warr told CNL2 moments ago. Warr is Deputy Director of Communications with Washington State Ferries (WSF).

In a CNL2 video interview published on May 15, 2024 with Steve Nevey, Assistant Secretary for Washington State Ferries, and John Vezina, WSF’s Director of Planning, Customer and Government Relations, Nevey said he expects one of the new hybrid boats to be delivered in 2028 and maybe two.

Said Nevey, (at 5:03 in the CNL2 May 15 interview) “We have a plan to deliver two boats in 2028. I think that plan is — the approach that we are taking is robust, and I’m confident in it. There are several factors that are unknown, right? If you just do a quick Google search you’ll see that the U.S. shipbuilding industry is having the same issues as the rtest of the maritime industry with people and resources, and projects are taking longer than they should. So there’s a concern there. But I think our team is looking at those concerns and trying de-risk that as much as possible. We’ve hired a strategic advisory committee of industry experts that meet with us on a regular basis to look at our approach and our strategy, and help us de-risk to those challenges.

“So at this moment I am confident we’ll have at least one boat in 2028, and I think we can get to two, given the approach that we’re taking. But, again, it’s going to depend on the shipyard and their resources and we’re really going to have to be creative and take a creative approach to getting these boats delivered.”

WSF has pushed back hard against the idea of building diesel-powered boats advocated by the four top candidates for Governor, The Seattle Times Editorial Board, and many folks in the San Juans. WSF says that such a plan would cause all new boats to be delayed until 2030.