Alaska names apparent low bidder for Tustumena replacement at $350M

A Louisiana shipyard submitted a bid of just under $350 million Tuesday to replace the M/V Tustumena, the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry that has connected communities from Homer to Dutch Harbor for more than six decades.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities identified Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors as the apparent low bidder, with a public bid of $349,996,251. The contract is not yet final. Thoma-Sea has 14 days to submit remaining required documentation before DOT&PF issues a formal Intention to Award.

The bid opening marks the first major AMHS vessel procurement in more than a decade. It is a milestone in carrying out the Alaska Marine Highway System 2045 Long-Range Plan, which identified replacing the aging Tustumena as one of the system's highest priorities to improve reliability and preserve service to coastal communities. The ports served by the vessel include Homer, Seldovia, Kodiak, Old Harbor, Ouzinkie, Chignik, Sand Point, King Cove, Cold Bay, False Pass, Akutan, and Unalaska, linking residents, businesses, visitors, and freight across Southcentral Alaska, the Alaska Peninsula, and the eastern Aleutians.

"For the communities served by the Tustumena, this vessel represents far more than a new ferry," Commissioner Ryan Anderson said. "It is a lifeline that connects families, supports local economies, moves freight, and provides access to essential services. The design of this vessel was shaped by the experience of our captains, engineers, terminal staff, shoreside employees, and the communities that rely on this route."

The Tustumena entered service in 1964. The replacement vessel, designed by Seattle naval architecture firm Glosten, will carry more passengers and vehicles than its predecessor and will be faster and more fuel-efficient, according to Glosten's project description.

Craig Tornga, Marine Director for AMHS, said the new vessel will bring improved reliability, enhanced safety, and modern systems. "This milestone represents more than a new ship," Tornga said. "It represents renewed confidence in the future of the Alaska Marine Highway System."

Governor Mike Dunleavy framed the procurement as a generational commitment. "Replacing the Tustumena is one of the largest investments ever made in the Alaska Marine Highway System," Dunleavy said, "and reflects our administration's commitment to rebuilding this critical transportation network." Dunleavy added that the new vessel will serve Alaskans for decades, strengthen the coastal economy, and provide more reliable transportation for the communities that depend on the Marine Highway.

Thoma-Sea, founded in 1990, operates more than 120 acres of Gulf Coast shipyard facilities. The company recently completed the Arctic Fjord, a fisheries research vessel now operating in Alaska.