3 shipyards plan joint ferry bid

TACOMA – Three competing Washington shipyards have agreed to work together to build four new ferries for the state.

Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. of Seattle, J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding of Tacoma and Nichols Brothers Boat Builders of Whidbey Island will submit a single, joint bid for the ferry contract, the News Tribune of Tacoma reported Saturday.

The state has budgeted $342 million for the ferries, which would each carry up to 144 vehicles.