Washington State Ferries officials said Friday the state has called for bids for three new ferries.

The advertisement seeking interested companies includes a contract to build at least two new 64-car ferries.

Nichols Brothers Boat Builders is expecting to get some of the work for the new ferries, pending a successful bid. The Freeland boatyard is already doing work on the construction of a 64-car ferry for the state of Washington. WSF awarded a $65.5 million contract to Todd Pacific Shipyards in December 2008 for the ferry, which is scheduled to be delivered in summer 2010, and Nichols Brothers is a subcontractor.

The state plans to build four new ferries in the next five years to replace aging vessels in the fleet. According to WSF, 20 auto-passenger ferries are between 40 and 60 years old and must be replaced in the next two decades.

“Going to ad for these new vessels is a significant step toward updating our fleet and providing our customers a long-term, sustainable ferry system,” said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary.

“The investment in our ferry system is also an investment in jobs – for the state’s shipbuilding industry and for the local economies that depend on reliable ferry service,” she added. “We have worked closely with the Legislature, ferry-served communities, business leaders and elected officials to get to the point where we could say the ferry system’s future is looking brighter.”

“We ferry riders have been waiting for this day for a long time,” said 10th District Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, a Democrat from Camano Island who is chairwoman of the Senate Transportation Committee.

WSF officials said the agency will open bids on the additional 64-car ferries contract this fall.