Fort Lauderdale-based Ward's Marine Electric was awarded a $2.5 million contract to replace automatic bus transfer switches for the U.S. Coast Guard.

"This award represents a significant achievement for the new government contracts division at Ward's Marine Electric," the company said in a statement.

The contract involves upgrading 18 (440 VAC 100 to 300 amp) switches on eight 378-foot long-range enforcement cutters in Honolulu; Seattle; Charleston, S.C.; San Francisco; and Kodiak, Alaska.