EBDG to design new Steamship Authority ferry

EBDG designed ferry Island Home, delivered to Steamship Authority by shipbuilder VT Halter Marine in 2007

FEBRUARY 3, 2014 — Seattle headquartered naval architecture and marine engineering firm Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) has been awarded a multiple-phase project to design a new freight and passenger ferry for the Massachusetts-based Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard & Nantucket Steamship Authority (SSA).

“We were looking to replace our oldest vessel, the M/V Governor, with a more versatile vessel by the spring of 2016,” stated Wayne C. Lamson, General Manager for the SSA. “We selected EBDG because we felt they provided the best option in helping us to meet this goal based on their design team’s experience.”

The single-ended vessel will measure approximately 235 feet, have a total passenger capacity of between 384 – 512, and a car deck that will accommodate 50 standard vehicles or 10 tractor-trailer vehicles. The vessel will have a target speed of 16 knots and will include a bow thruster.

At the Steamship Authority’s January 21 meeting, the Board approved a proposed statement of owner’s requirements for the new vessel that will now serve as the basis for its preliminary design. The goal is to have the preliminary design completed by mid-March and to have the final contract design and specifications approved by the United States Coast Guard in order to issue an invitation to shipyards for bids in October, to award the construction contract in January 2015, and to have the vessel in service by May 2016.

The vessel arrangement will feature twin side casings with walk-on passenger access, interior passenger spaces on the passenger deck, crew accommodations and a pilothouse above.

The proposed ferry will provide service between the Massachusetts mainland, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.

The contract with SSA includes a preliminary design study, design validation, contract design, shipyard bid assistance and construction support.

“We’re pleased to be partnering once again with the SSA,” said EBDG Vice-president of Engineering, Brian King. “We previously designed the 255 ft Island Home for them, and look forward to helping ensure that the new ferry will also have a very successful, long-term run.”

Active in the area of passenger vessel design since its inception, EBDG has worked for ferry operators across the country, including multiple agencies within the state of Washington, and agencies in Alaska, Texas, North Carolina, Oregon and New York as well as British Columbia, Canada.

The vessel that the new ferry replaces, the Governor, began life in California in 1954 running from San Diego to Coronado. When a bridge was built spanning her original route, Governor shifted venue to Seattle-based Washington State Ferries. As new vessels arrived, Governor again became surplus and was sold to the U.S. Coast Guard for the New York Harbor Governor’s Island service. For a third time in her career, Governor became surplus with the closing of Governor’s Island. She subsequently joined the SSA fleet in 1998 as a back-up vessel on the Vineyard route.

The double-ended Governor is the longest and widest vessel in the SSA fleet at 242’x 65′ and the only vessel with diesel-electric power. Three Caterpillar diesels power two electric propulsion motors giving her a 12-knot speed.

She has limited passenger accommodations, but has a large freight deck.