Professor John Robertson OBA

From the Washington State Standard in May 2025:

Washington State Ferries said it would deploy its new electric ferries first on the Mukilteo-Clinton run. The short route is currently served by diesel ferries like the Tokitae, seen here approaching Whidbey Island. (Photo by Tom Banse) Ferry system managers and state budget writers in Washington took a cold wave over the bow Monday upon opening the bids to construct up to five new hybrid electric ferries.

“I don’t see how you get to five. There’s money for three on a good day,” said state House Transportation Committee Chair Jake Fey, D-Tacoma.

The Washington Legislature previously set aside about $1.3 billion [£1 billion] to build new ferries and charging infrastructure over the next six to eight years. New vessels are overdue to stabilize the state’s aging and sometimes unreliable ferry fleet.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/bids-build-plug-washington-state-014112643.html

The new ferries required to replace vessels in fleet averaging 37 years-old are not even ordered yet and look like costing around more than the much moaned about CalMac ferries the MV Glen Sannox (in-service) and Glen Rosa (2026).

The MV Glen Sannox, a complex new hybrid, running on both LNG and gas oil, cost £380 million in the end but the Glen Rosa, construction problems solved with the first vessel will only cost £185 million.

So, the US vessels look like costing at least £330 billion each before inevitable cost over-runs, for simpler all-electric, technology and thus twice the cost of the Glen Rosa.

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