Wash. shipyard gets nod to build ferry

The Washington Department of Transportation has asked Todd Pacific Shipyards to begin construction of one 64-car ferry to serve the Port Townsend-Keystone route - and the state wants the vessel completed in 18 months.

Todd's bid on the ship came in at more than $65 million.

The Legislature has appropriated $84.5 million to build new boats to replace the 80-year-old Steel Electric ferries pulled from the route in November 2007 for safety reasons. The state has borrowed one ferry from Pierce County, but that lease expires in August.

The state had hoped to build two new ferries for the route but Todd's bid for two came in at more than $124 million.

Washington State Ferries chief David Moseley said Monday he wasn't surprised the bid came in high since Todd was the only bidder. By law, the boats must be built in a Washington shipyard.

Todd CEO Steve Welch says his company will start work immediately. He says the 18-month bid cycle increased the bid costs.