Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, L.L.C. was identified as the apparent low bidder for the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities’ (DOT&PF) Tustumena replacement vessel (TRV). The Louisiana-based shipbuilder submitted a public bid price of $349,996,251.00 to construct the new, state-of-the-art vessel for the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS).
The contract bid opening marks the first major AMHS vessel procurement in more than a decade and represents a significant milestone in implementing the AMHS 2045 Long-Range Plan, which identified replacement of the aging Tustumena as one of the system’s highest priorities to improve reliability and preserve service to coastal Alaska communities. The replacement of the Tustumena will be one of the largest investments ever made in the Alaska Marine Highway System. The new vessel will bring improved reliability, enhanced safety, increased operational flexibility, and modern efficient systems that will better serve the communities connected by the AMHS.
Under the state’s procurement procedures, the shipyard had a 14-day window to submit remaining required documentation. Upon successful review and validation of these materials, the department will move forward with a formal intention to award the contract.
The Tustumena entered service in 1964 and over more than six decades of service became an iconic part of Alaska’s transportation system, providing dependable service to communities that rely on marine transportation. The vessel connects residents, businesses, visitors, and freight across Southcentral Alaska, the Alaska Peninsula, and the eastern Aleutians.
“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,” said DOT&PF Commissioner Ryan Anderson. “That collaborative effort has produced a vessel specifically designed for Alaska’s demanding operating environment and the unique challenges of serving the Aleutian Chain.”
Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors recently completed construction of a state-of-the-art fisheries research vessel now operating in Alaska, demonstrating its ability to successfully deliver complex vessels designed for Alaska’s demanding operating environment.