Guido Perla & Associates signed a contract with Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporation to provide the design of a new 144-Auto ferry, satisfying the design portion of a design-build contract that Todd Pacific Shipyard, in conjunction with its major subcontractor J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corporation recently signed with Washington State Ferries. Washington State has budgeted $342 million for the construction of up to four vessels, which are to be constructed under this design-build contract.
Each of the new ferries, measuring approximately 362 ft in overall length and 83 ft in breadth, is intended to carry 1,500 passengers and 144 standard autos, and will incorporate all of the latest USCG requirements for Safety and Security. Detailed construction engineering for the first ferry is expected to begin in early 2009.
Washington State Ferries is the largest ferry system in the United States and the third largest in the world. The system consists of 28 vessels and 20 ferry terminals, transporting over 24 million passengers annually.
GPA’s relevant design experience includes the SOLAS certified passenger vessels M/V Empress of the North and M/V Coastal Queen, as well as the M/V Susitna, also known as the E-Craft, a high speed ferry capable of carrying 20 vehicles currently under construction at Alaska Ship & Drydock for the Office of Naval Research. GPA also provided regulatory approval drawings and detailed construction engineering for the Pierce County vehicle ferry M/V Steilacoom II, built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders and Todd Pacific Shipyard and was the Owner’s Naval Architect for the design and construction of the M/V Stikine vehicle ferry.