Posted on July 2, 2025
WASHINGTON STATE — Gov. Bob Ferguson announced the selection of Eastern Shipbuilding Group to construct three new hybrid-electric ferries for the state.
“After careful consideration and conversations with legislative leaders, I selected Eastern Shipbuilding Group to build 3 new hybrid-electric boats,” Ferguson wrote on X.
He also emphasized that Eastern Shipbuilding Group was chosen as “the best option to build these critically important vessels at a fair cost to taxpayers.”
This decision is part of a broader effort to restore domestic ferry service to pre-pandemic levels ahead of schedule, improve crew retention, and introduce the state’s first hybrid-electric vessel into service soon, according to Ferguson.
Washington State Ferries stated that these ferries will mainly serve the Seattle/Bremerton and Mukilteo/Clinton routes.
When terminals are ready with charging power, these ferries will cut emissions by about 90% compared to our older ferries,” wrote WSF on X. “This is an exciting time as we work to make our ferries cleaner & ready for the future.
A Washington State Ferries vessel sails in Puget Sound.
A Washington state ferry leaves the dock in downtown Seattle and sets sail for Bainbridge Island on November 29, 2022.
A Washington state ferry leaves the dock in downtown Seattle and sets sail for Bainbridge Island on November 29, 2022.
The Washington State Ferry system ran a reduced schedule Sunday but was staffed up enough to run at 90 percent by day’s end.
