EconomyAlaska · July 7, 2026
the tusty finally gets replaced
Alaska's oldest ferry is finally getting a replacement, and the price tag is nearly $350 million.
Daily Alaska staff · July 7, 2026
The Alaska Department of Transportation has named Louisiana shipbuilder Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors as the low bidder to replace the M/V Tustumena, the 62-year-old ferry that links Kodiak and remote communities down the Aleutian Chain. The winning bid came in at nearly $350 million.
For more than six decades, the "Tusty" has been the only link some island communities have to the outside world, hauling groceries, carrying residents to medical appointments, and moving vehicles where no road exists. She is the oldest active mainliner in the Alaska Marine Highway System fleet and the only state ferry serving communities down the Aleutian Chain.
Thoma-Sea has built ships for more than 35 years and recently completed a research vessel already in service in Alaska waters.
The replacement project was first announced in 2021. It went out for bids in 2022 and drew no takers, then returned to bid this year before Thoma-Sea was selected. If the builder clears federal Buy America review, the new ferry is expected to be sailing by 2029.
In this story
Questions people ask
Who won the bid to build Alaska's new ferry?
Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, a shipyard in Louisiana, was named the low bidder.
How much will the replacement for the Tustumena cost?
Nearly 350 million dollars.
When will the new ferry start running?
If the builder clears federal Buy America review, the new ferry is expected to be sailing by 2029.
Why does Kodiak need a new ferry so badly?
Kodiak and the small communities down the Aleutian Chain depend on it for groceries, medical travel, and moving vehicles since they have no road connection.
Evidence
Sources
Claims and where they come from
- The Alaska Department of Transportation named Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors as the low bidder to replace the M/V Tustumena with a bid of nearly $350 million. · alaskapublic.org
- The M/V Tustumena is 62 years old and the oldest active mainliner in the Alaska Marine Highway System fleet. · alaskapublic.org
- The replacement project was first announced in 2021, drew no bidders in 2022, and went back out to bid this year. · alaskapublic.org
- If the builder clears federal Buy America review, the new ferry is expected to be sailing by 2029. · alaskapublic.org
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