CALLING ALL MARINE, FERRY, TRANSPORTATION, AND CONSTRUCTION PROS
for a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
Public Consultation Meeting on TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025!
Tustumena Replacement Vessel
The MV Tustumena was built in 1964 and serves the communities of South Central, Kodiak Island and Southwest Alaska. It is one of two ocean class vessels in the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) fleet. Because of its size and design, it is the only AMHS vessel that is capable of serving all 13 ports of call between Homer and Unalaska. MV Tustumena is 296 feet long and 59 feet wide, with a domestic gross tonnage of 2,174 and a service speed of 13.3 knots.
Project Overview
Retiring and replacing the M/V Tustumena with a vessel that provides greater capacity, modernized safety features, increased seaworthiness, and enhanced passenger comfort will ensure reliable marine transportation service well into the future for the communities, residents and businesses in South Central, Kodiak Island and Southwest Alaska.
Project FAQ
What are the characteristics and capacities of the TRV?| Length Over All (LOA) | 330 Feet |
| Depth | 24.6 Feet |
| Breadth Over All (BOA) | 74' 10" |
| Design Draft | 15' - 10" to 16' - 6" (End of Service Life) |
| Air Draft | 90 Feet |
| Cruise / Service Speed | 15 Knots |
| Vans & Cars | 14 Vans & 22 Cars |
| Cars Only | 54 |
| Vehicle Loading Ability | Stern & Side (Port & Starboard), Vehicle Lift |
| Vehicle Lane Length | 1,140 Feet |
| Passengers | 250 (Berths for 124) |
The replacement vessel design is highly-constrained and includes:
- USCG/SOLAS and ABS Classed - Ocean Certified
- Overnight Accommodations for 250 passengers
- Vehicle lift (52'L x 14'W)
- Draft limitations due to the operating environment
- Freeboard limitations due to the dock heights in the communities it serves
- Stabilizer fins
- Large bow thrusters (2x850 kW)
The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program
The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program is a federally mandated initiative designed to ensure equal opportunity for small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals to participate in USDOT assisted contracts. The program’s purpose is to level the playing field by removing barriers to participation and promoting fair competition in procurement. In the marine sector, the DBE Program plays a key role by encouraging the inclusion of DBE certified firms in maritime-related infrastructure projects. These include ferry terminals, vessel construction, and dock improvements. The Alaska DOT&PF Civil Rights Office monitors and enforces 49 CFR Part 26 for the state of Alaska. See more information on the DBE program here.
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