Louisiana shipyard is low bidder to build replacement for Alaska’s ‘Rusty Tusty’

By SUZANNE DOWNING

July 1, 2026 – One of Alaska’s most iconic ferries is on track for replacement.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities announced Louisiana-based Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, L.L.C. is the apparent low bidder to build the long-awaited replacement for the M/V Tustumena, affectionately known around Alaska’s waterfronts as the “Rusty Tusty.”

The shipyard submitted a bid of $349,996,251 to construct the new Tustumena Replacement Vessel, marking the first major Alaska Marine Highway System vessel procurement in more than a decade.

The bid opening is a major milestone in the state’s effort to modernize the aging ferry fleet and fulfill one of the highest priorities identified in the Alaska Marine Highway System’s 2045 Long-Range Plan.

Under state procurement rules, Thoma-Sea now has 14 days to submit the remaining required documentation before the Department of Transportation conducts its final review and issues a formal Notice of Intent to Award the contract.

“Replacing the Tustumena is one of the largest investments ever made in the Alaska Marine Highway System and reflects our administration’s commitment to rebuilding this critical transportation network,” Gov. Mike Dunleavy said. “Today’s milestone moves us one step closer to delivering a modern vessel that will serve Alaskans for decades, strengthen our coastal economy, and provide more reliable transportation for the communities that depend on the Marine Highway.”

The M/V Tustumena entered service in 1964 and has spent more than 60 years connecting coastal communities across Southcentral Alaska, Kodiak Island, the Alaska Peninsula, and the eastern Aleutians. The ferry currently serves Homer, Seldovia, Kodiak, Old Harbor, Ouzinkie, Chignik, Sand Point, King Cove, Cold Bay, False Pass, Akutan, and Unalaska, carrying passengers, vehicles, freight, and essential supplies to communities with few other transportation options.

For many Alaskans, the aging vessel has earned both affection and frustration. Nicknamed the “Rusty Tusty” because of its age and weathered appearance and frequent shipyard calls, the ferry has become something of a legend while also suffering increasing maintenance issues and extended repair periods in recent years.

Transportation Commissioner Ryan Anderson said the replacement vessel is about far more than modernizing the fleet.

“For the communities served by the Tustumena, this vessel represents far more than a new ferry. It is a lifeline that connects families, supports local economies, moves freight, and provides access to essential services,” Anderson said. “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.”

The replacement vessel has been designed specifically for Alaska’s demanding operating conditions, incorporating input from vessel crews and the communities it will serve.

Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors has been building commercial vessels since 1990 and operates more than 120 acres of shipbuilding facilities in Louisiana. The company recently completed the Arctic Fjord, a fisheries research vessel now operating in Alaska, demonstrating its experience constructing ships designed for northern waters.

Craig Tornga, marine director for the Alaska Marine Highway System, said the project signals renewed momentum for Alaska’s ferry system.

“This milestone represents more than a new ship—it represents renewed confidence in the future of the Alaska Marine Highway System,” Tornga said. “The replacement vessel will provide improved reliability, enhanced safety, increased operational flexibility, and modern efficient systems that will better serve our passengers, crews, and the communities that depend on us.”

If the contract is awarded following the review period, construction of the replacement vessel will begin at the Louisiana shipyard.