Alaska Shipyard Constructs First Ferries Built In Alaska

Construction of the Alaska Class ferries has commenced and is under way at the State of Alaska Shipyard in Ketchikan.  Vigor Alaska, the operator at the shipyard reached a contract with the Department of Transportation to build the two new ferries.  The ferries are steel hulled, powered by twin diesel engines, and 280 feet long.  They can carry up to 300 passengers and 53 vehicles.  “The foundation for success now took years of investment in shipyard infrastructure and accumulating $120 million in funds to build the boats.  I am glad Vigor and the State found common ground and reached agreement.  We kept economic development in Alaska with state dollars and increased the number of jobs at the shipyard by 67%.  (100 jobs added to the existing 150 jobs at the shipyard).” Said Senator Stedman.  The new ferries are expected to be completed in 2018.  “We are already working on a way to make sure Vigor gets the best reasonable opportunity to bid on the next new ferry, the M/V Tustemena.”