Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, a shipbuilding company located on Whidbey Island, expressed disappointment following the announcement that a $714.5 million contract for new hybrid-electric ferries has been awarded to Florida’s Eastern Shipbuilding Group by Governor Bob Ferguson.
The CEO of Nichols Brothers, Gavin Higgins, stated that their bid would have resulted in the creation of over 1,300 jobs, enhanced the state’s apprenticeship initiatives, and infused hundreds of millions back into Washington’s economy. “It’s disappointing for us because it’s the loss of the opportunity to train the follow on generation of shipbuilders that we desperately need,” Higgins remarked. “This is an opportunity lost.”
Nichols Brothers operates a state-recognized apprenticeship program and was aiming to leverage this project to cultivate long-term trade skills within the Puget Sound area. Governor Ferguson revealed that Eastern Shipbuilding’s offer was 6% lower than Washington’s own cost assessments, and was deemed to provide the best value for taxpayers. The new hybrid-electric ferries are anticipated to cut emissions by up to 90% compared to older diesel-powered vessels, servicing essential routes across Puget Sound, including the Seattle to Bremerton and Mukilteo to Clinton paths.
The delivery of the ferries is set to occur over several years, with the first vessel expected in approximately five years. Ferguson’s office confirmed a revised delivery timeframe of 60 months, extending beyond the initial 48 months stated. However, Higgins asserted that Nichols Brothers was prepared to adhere to the original schedule and even proposed a dual contract where both companies would construct the ferries concurrently.
“We’ve had no communications with the governor’s office other than a phone call yesterday to advise us that they were awarding it to the competitor,” Higgins noted. He further raised concerns regarding the long-term maintenance and delivery challenges, highlighting the Pacific’s tumultuous conditions, particularly as the vessels would need to navigate the Panama Canal. “The Pacific is a very unforgiving sea,” he commented.
In light of this setback, Nichols Brothers plans to redirect its efforts towards other projects, including high-speed aluminum ferries.
