River-class ferry

The River class is a forthcoming ferry type to be operated by Sydney Ferries on Sydney Harbour. These ferries have been criticised for being too high for some of the bridges on the Parramatta River ferry services, being built in Indonesia and containing asbestos.[1]

River class
River Class ferry Esme Timbery undergoing testing off Manns Point in February 2021
Class overview
OperatorsTransdev Sydney Ferries
Preceded byRivercats
Built2020
Planned10
Completed4
Active0
General characteristics
TypeCatamaran
Length24
Decks2
Capacity200
Crew3

History

In September 2017, Transport for NSW called for expressions of interest for four new ferries for Parramatta River ferry services.[2] However, after the bids were higher than expected, the project was shelved.[3]

Upon being awarded the contract to operate the Sydney Ferries concession, Transdev Sydney Ferries placed an order for 10 new ferries to be built in Indonesia.[4]

The first four arrived in Newcastle in August 2020 for final works and trials. The ferries will work alongside the existing River Cat-class ferries. They will replace two HarbourCats, four SuperCats and four vessels chartered from Captain Cook Cruises.[5][6]

The vessels have a passenger capacity of 200, including 122 indoors, 18 seats outdoors on the lower deck, and 10 seats on the upper deck.

The first River Class ferry entered service in October 2021, confined to daytime service until they are deemed suitable for night time operations. [7]

Delays

Identified defects on the ferries include asbestos, sub-standard fit and finish, wheelhouse window angles making night operations dangerous, engine stalling, potential of fires or electrocution caused by sub standard electrical equipment/cabling and sub-standard steering components. Rectifying these issues have pushed the in service date out by over a year.

River class ferry Ruby Langford Ginibi in operation near Barangaroo

See also


References
  1. "Asbestos boards a ferry into Sydney Harbour". Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA. 2020-08-31. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  2. New ferries for the Parramatta River Transport for NSW 26 September 2017
  3. Purchase of new ferries for Sydney's busy Parramatta River shelved Sydney Morning Herald 21 December 2018
  4. Anger as Syd ferries to be built overseas Canberra Times 23 October 2019
  5. Asbestos found on new Sydney ferry vessels Nine News 21 August 2020
  6. Duck the problem with Sydney's new ferries Sydney Morning Herald 21 August 2020
  7. "First River Class ferry now in service". nsw.liberal.org.au. Retrieved 2021-10-14.

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