M/V Tustumena Replacement Design

Clients:

Alaska Marine Highway System
Completion Date:

Ongoing
Project Type:

Vessel Design & Modification
Service Categories:

Naval Architecture

Marine Engineering

Marine Consulting
Vessel Overview:

Passenger and vehicle ferry
Challenge:

A new vessel design that meets or exceeds the capabilities and standards of the M/V Tustumena.

IMPROVING A VITAL CONNECTION.

The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) ferries serve 33 ports in Alaska—plus the ports in Bellingham, WA and Prince Rupert, BC—and carry an average of 312,000 passengers and 98,000 vehicles per year. The M/V Tustumena is a critical link in this transportation system, with a specialized vehicle handling/elevator system (one of two in North America) that allows her to serve Southcentral and Southwestern Alaska. After nearly 60 years of reliable service, Tustumena is readying for retirement. To ensure the region receives a suitable successor to its beloved vessel, Glosten assisted the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and AMHS in the design of a Tustumena replacement vessel. The replacement vessel will offer more passenger and vehicle capacity than its predecessor and will be faster and more efficient.

DESIGNED TO SERVE ALASKA.

The Tustumena ties together ports, towns, and cities from Southcentral to Southwestern Alaska, and its service affects the lives and livelihoods of many Alaskans. The Tustumena replacement vessel is designed to interface with the challenging array of docks and tidal ranges in the region it will serve—and will be one of only two AMHS vessels, along with the Kennicott, capable of serving all 13 ports of call between Homer and Unalaska. Unlike the existing Tustumena, the Tustumena replacement vessel will also be able to interface with all 22 other AMHS dock facilities through conventional stern and side doors.

The Alaska Department of Transportation encourages public comment through its website and in public forums. Throughout the design process, Glosten incorporated crucial feedback from both the client and the Alaska community. Replacing the Tustumena with a vessel that is equally, if not more, versatile and capable will provide reliable marine transportation service well into the future for the residents, visitors, and businesses in Southcentral and Southwest Alaska.

In 2022, Glosten delivered the final design and specifications package for the Tustumena replacement vessel. The design incorporates the latest hull form development technologies, resulting in significantly lower fuel consumption and operating costs. The vessel’s design meets the new EPA air and water emissions standards and offers Alaskans a cost-effective, state-of-the-art ferry to traverse the demanding conditions of the state’s marine highways.