Todd is only bidder for 2 state ferries

SEATTLE — The only bidder to build two new Washington state ferries is Todd Shipyards — the Seattle shipyard currently building a new 64-car ferry.

Todd’s bid Thursday was $114 million. Ferry engineers had estimated the cost at $110 million.

The ferry now under construction cost $66 million.

The Transportation Department says the ferries division will review the bid and expects to award the contract within 10 days.

The Kitsap Sun reports the first ferry is on a rushed schedule — 18 months instead of 20 — so it can replace a leased boat, the Steilacoom II, on the Port Townsend-Keystone route.

“I think part of the issue is the partnership we’ve established with Todd gives them a great deal of confidence with our construction management process,” said state ferries director David Moseley.

Todd is subcontracting with Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Everett Shipyard and Jesse Engineering on the first boat, and Moseley expects that to continue for the next two.

Todd is building the hull. Nichols is constructing the pilot houses and passenger cabin on Whidbey Island. Everett Shipyard is in charge of the curtain plate, or sides, of the ferry. And the steering compartments are being crafted by Jesse Engineering in Tacoma.

The first two boats will be assigned to the Port Townsend-Keystone route, in the summer of 2010 and the spring of 2011. The third is targeted for Point Defiance-Tahlequah, in spring 2012.

If the three boats stay on budget, they would cost $180 million, leaving $90 million authorized by the Legislature for a fourth ferry, either another 64-car boat or a 144-car. Todd gave the state a $50 million option to build a fourth 64-car ferry. The ferry system estimates that a 144-car boat would cost between $92 million and $114 million.

Moseley hopes to build a 144-car ferry.

Nine of the ferry system’s 20 ferries are between 40 and 60 years old and must be replaced in the next 20 years.

Information from: Kitsap Sun, www.kitsapsun.com/