(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - Hundreds of Ketchikan residents cheered when Governor Sean Parnell announced the State of Alaska and Vigor Industrial had reached a final agreement to construct two Alaska Class Ferries at Vigor Alaska in Ketchikan.

The vessels will be the first Alaska Marine Highway System ferries built in Alaska. Governor Parnell made the announcement at a community event & barbecue held by Vigor Alaska at the Ketchikan Shipyard today.

Today's historic announcement that Alaska's new ferries will be built in Southeast Alaska. Adam Beck, President of Vigor Alaska and Alaska Governor Parnell sign the agreement.
Photo courtesy Office of the Governor

Employing the Construction Manager General Contractor (CMGC) process, the State worked with Vigor Industrial to negotiate a guaranteed maximum price to construct both vessels. The construction contract and costs to build both ferries in Ketchikan will be at the $120 million budgeted amount.

“These vessels will be the largest ships ever built in Alaska,’ Governor Parnell said. “Building these ferries in state will be a major boost for Alaska’s economy. This has been our intent during the entire process and will help create hundreds of new year-round jobs at the Ketchikan shipyard, while helping Ketchikan develop a highly capable workforce, not only for the growing marine economy of Southeast Alaska, but with skills that can translate into work across the state.”

“This project represents far more than a contract,” said Adam Beck, President of Vigor Alaska. “It is a dramatic step forward in realizing the shared goal of the people of Alaska, its elected officials and the shipyard to keep taxpayer dollars in the state and support family-wage jobs. The Vigor Alaska team represents the best shipbuilders in the state with the expertise to build complex vessels and the dedication to do it to the highest quality standards.”

According to information provided by Vigor Alaska, the two day ferries will cost $101 million to construct, which is a reduction in the original price. Because of the importance of keeping Alaskan dollars in the state, Vigor Alaska said they made significant cuts to the initial estimates for the project and, in fact, delivered a price
that was below the independent government price estimate available in the lower 48 states.

Ketchikan Shipyard, Vigor Alaska
Photo courtesy Vigor Industrials

Strengthening Alaska’s maritime sector has been a significant focus for the state. In the last decade, investments through AIDEA have transformed the Ketchikan shipyard into a state-of-the-art, world-class shipbuilding facility.

“Here we are today to launch this shipyard to a new level, a new level of good jobs, a new level of growth for Ketchikan businesses that are going to supply the shipyard and its workers,” said Governor Parnell. “Today we effectively put Ketchikan and this shipyard on the map as a major maritime industry competitor.”

The Ketchikan yard features a 130,000 square foot ship production facility designed from the ground up to build ships upwards of 500 feet in length. It includes an adjacent five story production center to minimize material flow and maximize efficiency.

“I’ve lived in Ketchikan all my life,” said shipyard worker Norm Skan. “It’s such an honor to be building the first ever ferry built in the state for AMHS. We’re going to knock it out of the park.”

Vigor CEO Frank Foti captured today’s excitement in his remarks “It’s fitting and downright awesome that the Vigor Alaska’s workers will be stamping ‘MADE IN ALASKA’ on new ferry construction.”

Construction of both vessels is scheduled to begin in October 2014 and will take approximately four years to complete. The design and estimating process was a true collaboration between Vigor Alaska, Alaska Department of Transportation and, Alaska Marine Highway System and Elliot Bay Design Group.

The State was able to incorporate public input into the final design of the ferries while keeping the project within budget. The vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2018.

The ferries will be 280 feet long, seat up to 300 passengers and carry 53 standard vehicles. Each ferry will feature bow and stern doors for quicker loading and unloading, fully enclosed car decks, and controllable pitch propellers to maximize maneuverability and efficiency. A modified hull design will greatly improve traveler comfort during rough weather.

KEY SPECIFICATIONS

Vessel Type: Roll On-Roll Off Passenger Ferry
Overall Length: 280ft
Passenger Capacity: 450 (interior seating for 300 passengers)
Vehicle Capacity: 48-60 plus
Cruise Speed: 18 knots (20 knot sprint speed)
Operation: Day boat Operations

Source of News: 

Office of the Governor Sean Parnell
www.gov.state.ak.us

Vigor Alaska
www.vigorindustrial.com

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