By Suanne Pelley
Our ferry system in Washington is the largest in the United States. After several difficult years, in part due to our aging fleet, we are on the road to recovery. This week, we launched our national contracting process to begin the bidding and building process for five new hybrid-electric ferries. We know that building these new vessels is critical to improving our service and reliability for all of our passengers and communities that use ferries.
On Thursday, May 30, we invited potential shipbuilders to submit qualifications to build five new hybrid-electric vessels. Later this year, the qualified firms will submit their bids, allowing us to then complete our selection of one or possibly two shipbuilders. Under this contracting approach, two vessels could be delivered in 2028, two more in 2029 and the final ferry in 2030 (subject to final bid prices and available funding). These boats are expected to support the Mukilteo/Clinton and Seattle/Bremerton routes.
Hybrid-electric ferries offer a healthier, financially sustainable future
Our diesel vessels are one of the state’s largest emitters of climate pollution, burning nearly 19 million gallons of diesel fuel each year. Hybrid-electric ferries not only bring us closer to a cleaner, healthier, and more financially sustainable future – they’re also the fastest path to growing our fleet.
- Hybrid-electric ferries have been in design for over a year and shipbuilders across the country are interested in building these vessels.
- The five new ferries will save approximately 240 million gallons of diesel over their 60-year lifespan.
- Emissions will be reduced from the current 180,000 metric tons to 45,000 metric tons annually systemwide.
Curious what goes into building a new ferry?
Planning and Policy: Support for hybrid-electric vessels began in 2018 with an executive order for us to begin transitioning to an emission-free fleet. A similar executive order went into effect in 2020. There is also a law requiring state agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2040. After that, our greenhouse gas emissions are required to be at net zero by 2050.
In 2020, we published our System Electrification Plan (PDF 4MB) which explains how we plan to meet those goals by using hybrid-electric vessels and charging stations at the terminals. The plan includes building 16 new vessels in the next 16 years and converting six diesel-only vessels to hybrid-electric. These two actions combined allow us to replace and revitalize our aging fleet.
In May 2023, the Washington legislature passed a bill allowing for a faster and more competitive procurement process for the five hybrid-electric ferries. With this new law, out-of-state shipyards can submit bids and we can issue up to two contracts at once. At least 10 shipyards have registered as interested parties to date.
Funding: The electrification program is estimated to cost $4 billion. So far, we have secured $1.68 billion in funding. That includes $599 million from the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) (passed in 2021), and $1.03 billion from Move Ahead Washington (passed in 2022).
Design: Before we construct a ferry, it has to be designed. We have a dedicated team that has been working for over a year to design vessels that meet the unique requirements of our Puget Sound routes. Our design team includes naval architects, propulsion system experts and Washington State Ferries subject matter experts. These ferries will carry 160 vehicles and 1,500 passengers. Here is a rendering of the new hybrid-electric ferry.
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| Rendering of a new hybrid-electric ferry |
Construction: Shipyards must pass a rigorous pre-qualification process before they can submit bids. We will choose one or two winning shipyards. Then, each winning shipyard will be allowed one year for final planning and two years for construction of the first vessel.
Some people have suggested that it would be faster to build diesel-only ferries instead. This is not the case. This hybrid-electric plan and design is the quickest path to new vessels. We have legislative direction, funding and design to proceed with the hybrid-electric vessels. To change course and build diesel-only ferries, we would need to receive new legislative direction and re-start the design process. Altogether, the earliest a new diesel vessel could enter service would be 2030, two years beyond our current timeline for the first hybrid-electric ferries and not meet legislative direction, including emissions standards.
Washington State Ferries is proud of the path we’re on to build our ferry fleet of the future. We hope that you will journey along with us!
3 comments:
This is some good news; but what a sad state of affairs that Wa state has reached such a state of affairs.
Who ever has brought on this critical shortage of a major thorough fare. The ferries should have been and need to be put on a priority list such as the Highways.
You seem to have been able to build more lanes for the Freeways etc. chose to neglect even decent maintenance to the ancient ferries
By glancing at your proposals Yet again you appear to have neglected the Northern counties
Thankfully Red Ball strives to embrace and help Port Angeles,
Wake up! The northern counties have been almost completely cut off from travel between Islands
Disgraceful how such an integral part of WAS has been allowed to flounder
Maybe we can hand over to our Tribal community the importance of a vibrant, well run, capable organisation
a) Astounded to find WSF is just now beginning the bidding process for these ferries
b) Need to know what percentage of state emissions from other sources such as cars and trucks, the ferries are producing, not just raw figures. I tried researching this once and to my surprise, the percentage of emissions produced nthe costs was in fact more than I expected.
c) If figure provided by b) above is not significant, whtly can't we just build more diesel boats on the same exact design as our present ones?
DanielH,
a) Astounded to find WSF is just now beginning the bidding process for these ferries
There are lots of pieces that had to come together before we could launch the bidding process, especially the passage of House Bill 1846 in 2023 that allowed WSF to invite bids from shipbuilders across the nation and potentially award two contracts to expedite delivery. Prequalification packages from shipyards are due this summer. We will issue the final bid documents this fall, and award one or two contracts early in 2025.
b) Need to know what percentage of state emissions from other sources such as cars and trucks, the ferries are producing, not just raw figures. I tried researching this once and to my surprise, the percentage of emissions produced nthe costs was in fact more than I expected.
All state agencies monitor greenhouse gas emissions and our progress in reaching zero emissions. The latest report was published by the Washington State Department of Ecology in 2022, with overall state agency information detailed on pages 16 - 18 and WSDOT-specific information beginning on page 130. Within WSDOT, ferries are responsible for approximately 72% of greenhouse gas emissions, totaling about 180,000 metric tons annually. In one year, WSF produces the same amount of greenhouse gases as roughly 42,000 cars.
c) If figure provided by b) above is not significant, why can't we just build more diesel boats on the same exact design as our present ones?
Building more diesel vessels will not allow WSF to meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals. In 2020 WSF completed the System Electrification Plan that provides the pathway to design and construct the new hybrid-electric system. Based on fuel consumption and GHG emissions, electrification is the most significant positive affect we can have on the environment. In addition, the design for the new hybrid-electric ferries is nearly complete so that shipbuilders will be able to bid on these vessels later this year. Olympic Class diesel ferries were the last new vessels, constructed between 2014-2018. However, the propulsion and electrical system suppliers for those vessels are no longer in business. If directed to build new diesel-only ferries, WSF would need to contract for a new propulsion system, and then design a new vessel for that system. Changing course now would require restarting a new design, obtain new legislative authority and re-launch the bid process. Even if we started that process today, the soonest a new diesel boat would be in the water would be 2030.
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