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 | 16' - 6" |
| Air Draft | 90 Feet |
| Cruise / Service Speed | 15 Knots |
| Vans & Cars | 14 Vans & 26 Cars |
| Cars Only | 58 |
| Vehicle Loading Ability | Stern & Side (Port & Starboard), Vehicle Lift |
| Vehicle Lane Length | 1,200 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)
Project Status
The TRV design is now nearly complete and entering the final stages of review and compilation. Most plans have undergone ABS review, with comments addressed. On October 30, AK DOT&PF/AMHS and Glosten hosted an Industry Day to share key project information with shipyards and other industry partners. This session provided essential background and prepared stakeholders for the upcoming project bid tender.
View the Industry Day video at https://vimeo.com/1133571402 or below:
The DBE participation goal for the TRV project is:
You can find the following information on our website:- October 30, 2025 Industry Day Presentation Slides
- VeLTS Operations Animation [YouTube]
- TRV DBE Resources