{
  "story": {
    "slug": "the-tusty-finally-gets-replaced",
    "headline": "the tusty finally gets replaced",
    "deck": "Alaska's oldest ferry is finally getting a replacement, and the price tag is nearly $350 million.",
    "url": "https://thedailyalaska.com/story/the-tusty-finally-gets-replaced",
    "section": "Economy",
    "area": null,
    "published_at": "2026-07-07T20:00:00+00:00",
    "updated_at": "2026-10-02T06:22:15.265796+00:00",
    "body_md": "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.\n\nFor 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.\n\nThoma-Sea has built ships for more than 35 years and recently completed a research vessel already in service in Alaska waters.\n\nThe 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.",
    "sources": [
      {
        "url": "https://alaskapublic.org/news/2026-07-02/alaska-dot-identifies-350m-low-bidder-for-tustumena-replacement",
        "label": "alaskapublic.org"
      }
    ]
  },
  "envelope": {
    "story_id": "5a4efa22-10b6-47a8-8193-356400dcdb82",
    "slug": "the-tusty-finally-gets-replaced",
    "summary": "Alaska DOT named Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors of Louisiana as low bidder, nearly $350 million, to replace the 62-year-old M/V Tustumena ferry serving Kodiak and Aleutian Chain communities. Project first announced in 2021, drew no 2022 bidders, re-bid this year. New ferry expected by 2029 pending Buy America review.",
    "key_facts": [
      "The M/V Tustumena is 62 years old and the oldest active mainliner in the Alaska Marine Highway System fleet.",
      "The winning bid came in at nearly $350 million from Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors of Louisiana.",
      "Thoma-Sea has been building ships for more than 35 years and recently finished a research vessel already working in Alaska waters.",
      "The replacement project was first announced in 2021 and drew no bidders in 2022 before going back out to bid this year.",
      "If the builder clears federal Buy America review, the new ferry is expected to be sailing by 2029."
    ],
    "faq": [
      {
        "a": "Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, a shipyard in Louisiana, was named the low bidder.",
        "q": "Who won the bid to build Alaska's new ferry?"
      },
      {
        "a": "Nearly 350 million dollars.",
        "q": "How much will the replacement for the Tustumena cost?"
      },
      {
        "a": "If the builder clears federal Buy America review, the new ferry is expected to be sailing by 2029.",
        "q": "When will the new ferry start running?"
      },
      {
        "a": "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.",
        "q": "Why does Kodiak need a new ferry so badly?"
      }
    ],
    "claims": [
      {
        "claim": "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.",
        "confidence": "sourced",
        "source_url": "https://alaskapublic.org/news/2026-07-02/alaska-dot-identifies-350m-low-bidder-for-tustumena-replacement",
        "source_label": "alaskapublic.org"
      },
      {
        "claim": "The M/V Tustumena is 62 years old and the oldest active mainliner in the Alaska Marine Highway System fleet.",
        "confidence": "sourced",
        "source_url": "https://alaskapublic.org/news/2026-07-02/alaska-dot-identifies-350m-low-bidder-for-tustumena-replacement",
        "source_label": "alaskapublic.org"
      },
      {
        "claim": "The replacement project was first announced in 2021, drew no bidders in 2022, and went back out to bid this year.",
        "confidence": "sourced",
        "source_url": "https://alaskapublic.org/news/2026-07-02/alaska-dot-identifies-350m-low-bidder-for-tustumena-replacement",
        "source_label": "alaskapublic.org"
      },
      {
        "claim": "If the builder clears federal Buy America review, the new ferry is expected to be sailing by 2029.",
        "confidence": "sourced",
        "source_url": "https://alaskapublic.org/news/2026-07-02/alaska-dot-identifies-350m-low-bidder-for-tustumena-replacement",
        "source_label": "alaskapublic.org"
      }
    ],
    "locations": [
      {
        "area": "Alaska",
        "kind": "city",
        "name": "Kodiak"
      },
      {
        "area": "Alaska",
        "kind": "region",
        "name": "Aleutian Chain"
      }
    ],
    "people": [],
    "organizations": [
      {
        "kind": "government",
        "name": "Alaska Department of Transportation"
      },
      {
        "kind": "company",
        "name": "Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors"
      },
      {
        "kind": "government",
        "name": "Alaska Marine Highway System"
      }
    ],
    "event_dates": [
      {
        "date": "2021",
        "label": "Replacement project first announced"
      },
      {
        "date": "2022",
        "label": "Bidding drew no takers"
      },
      {
        "date": "2026-07-02",
        "label": "Low bidder named"
      },
      {
        "date": "2029",
        "label": "New ferry expected to be sailing"
      }
    ],
    "story_status": "ongoing",
    "what_changed": null,
    "keywords": [
      "tustumena replacement ferry",
      "alaska marine highway system",
      "thoma-sea marine constructors",
      "kodiak ferry",
      "aleutian chain ferry",
      "alaska dot ferry bid",
      "m/v tustumena"
    ],
    "disclosure": "Produced with AI assistance, narrated with Slav Lund's voice clone with his consent, and reviewed by a person before publishing.",
    "generated_at": "2026-10-01T05:25:42.699+00:00",
    "reviewed_at": null,
    "updated_at": "2026-10-02T06:22:15.265796+00:00"
  },
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      "url": "https://thedailyalaska.com/codex/m-v-tustumena"
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  "corrections": [],
  "underwriting": null,
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    "headline": "the tusty finally gets replaced",
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    "abstract": "Alaska DOT named Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors of Louisiana as low bidder, nearly $350 million, to replace the 62-year-old M/V Tustumena ferry serving Kodiak and Aleutian Chain communities. Project first announced in 2021, drew no 2022 bidders, re-bid this year. New ferry expected by 2029 pending Buy America review.",
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