Louisiana DOTD Announced Low Bid for New Pair of Cameron Ferry Vessels That Will be Powered by Upgradable Electric Thrusters

Louisiana – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) announced on October 5, 2022, that it had received an apparent low bid for the building of two new ferry boats for Cameron Parish’s Cameron crossing. Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, LLC of Houma placed the lowest bid of $49,706,865.

The new vessels will be 190′ x 50′ x 13′ in size, featuring upgradable electric thrusters,  and will replace the 1964-built M/V Cameron II. End-loading vessels will load and unload large commercial vehicles. Two boats will be built to ensure that ferry service is not disrupted when one vessel undergoes mandatory dry docking in accordance with US Coast Guard standards.

“The construction of two new Cameron ferries is exciting news not only for southwest Louisiana, but also for the state and nation,” said Governor John Bel Edwards. “Cameron Parish is essential to our country’s oil and gas industries, and it’s a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts from all over. The new ferry boats will enhance the parish’s infrastructure and increase the consistency and quality of life for industry, residents, and visitors.”

“The new ferries in Cameron are a welcome addition to our state’s infrastructure system,” said LADOTD Secretary Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D. “Allowing uninterrupted service to all vehicles, including commercial vehicles, is a major advantage to the area’s economic development. With regards to asset management, this will reduce maintenance expenditures and performance disruption. I wish we could modernize our equipment and fleet accordingly. The new ferries will also provide continuity for hurricane evacuation routes in southwest Louisiana. Looking to our future, the boats will allow a greener transit experience with their upgradable electric thrusters.”

Previously, when the M/V Cameron II was in drydock, a temporary side-loading ferry was used. This permitted passenger vehicles to cross, but trucks longer than around 50′ were unable to utilize the ferry and had to detour around the Calcasieu Ship Channel for approximately 100 miles. The two new boats will allow commercial vehicle ferry service to continue uninterrupted.

Senator Mark Abraham (District 25) and Representative Ryan Bourriaque (District 47) issued the following joint statement:

“On behalf of the legislators representing this area, we are proud that this project will become a reality. At the direction of the Cameron Parish Police Jury in 2014, work began on funding requests and grant applications for the replacement of M/V Cameron II, which is now two years shy of its 60th birthday. The only alternative to a reliable ferry at this location is an over two-hour long route to travel some 1,000 feet. There are few projects we have been fortunate enough to work on in our time in public service that are as impactful and needed as the Cameron ferry project. This one project has quality of life, economic competitiveness, tourism, and public safety implications that are beyond measure.

We would like to thank the governor, Secretary Wilson, the LADOTD staff, President Cortez, and Speaker Schexnayder. This has been a long time coming!”

The installation of battery-powered electric thrusters on the two new vessels will help minimize greenhouse gas emissions. The batteries will be charged by onboard diesel generators, but they can be converted to totally electric in the future.

The construction of the two new ferries is planned to begin early next year, with a completion date of mid-2025.

LADOTD reported that between fiscal years 2018 and 2021, the Cameron ferry carried an average of 153,500 vehicles and 480 passengers per year.

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