The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) has awarded the construction contract for the Tustumena Replacement Vessel (TRV) to Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors of Houma, Louisiana.
The award follows the successful completion of the Federal Transit Administration’s Buy America audit, clearing the way for the project to move into detailed design and construction.
The new hybrid ferry will replace the veteran TUSTUMENA, which serves communities in Southwest and Southcentral Alaska, including ports along the Aleutian chain. The vessel will be 330 ft (approx. 100 m) long with capacity for 58 vehicles and 250 passengers. It will feature diesel-electric hybrid propulsion, intended to improve reliability and fuel efficiency while reducing emissions.
A key feature of the design is a specialised vehicle elevator system, which will allow vehicles to be loaded and unloaded in ports with extreme tidal ranges.
Thoma-Sea has more than 30 years of shipbuilding experience and operates a yard covering over 120 acres. The company has previously built oceanographic survey vessels and offshore support vessels.
No timeline for delivery has yet been announced.
Source: Alaska DOT&PF
