FEBRUARY 16, 2013—The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has issued a Request for Proposals for the design and construction management of a new 70-vehicle capacity, double-ended ferry for the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry service.

The new steel boat, which has an estimated build cost of about $27 million, would replace the service’s current oldest ferry, The Virginia, which was built in 1936 and has a capacity of 28 cars. The new boat would be similar in size to the 263 ft double-ender Pocahontas (shown above). That boat has Voith Schneider Propellers and was delivered by the Trinity Marine Group in 1995.

The Request for Proposals will close his month. The intent of the RFP is to secure a naval architect to design the vessel and provide construction management. The naval architect would develop design plans, specifications, bid documents, construction cost estimates, project schedules, for the ferry boat, including the design of all components and auxiliaries that meet all requirements of federal, state and local agencies that have jurisdiction over and input into the design.

Construction could begin as early as this year. The VDOT wants to add the vessel by no later than 2016.