Wikipedia

Transdev Sydney Ferries

Transdev Sydney Ferries
IndustryFerries
PredecessorSydney Ferries
Founded28 July 2012
Headquarters
Sydney
,
Australia
Area served
Port Jackson
Parramatta River
ServicesFerry operator
ParentTransdev Australasia
Websitewww.beyondthewharf.com.au/
Logo of Harbour City Ferries until its rebranding in 2019

Transdev Sydney Ferries, formerly Harbour City Ferries, is a subsidiary of Transdev Australasia, and is the operator of ferry services in the Sydney Ferries network since July 2012. It currently operates the ferry network under a contract until June 2028. As part of the operation contract, Transdev Sydney Ferries leases both the Balmain Maintenance Facility and the fleet from the government agency Sydney Ferries.[1]

History

[edit]

In 2011, the NSW government decided to contract out ferry services to the private sector. Harbour City Ferries was formed as a 50/50 joint venture between Transfield Services (later Broadspectrum) and Veolia Transdev (later Transdev). In May 2012, Harbour City Ferries was announced as the successful tenderer to operate the services on a seven-year contract starting 28 July 2012.[2][3][4][5][6]

In December 2016, Harbour City Ferries became fully owned by Transdev Australasia after Transdev bought out Broadspectrum's 50% shareholding.[7] As of December 2016, Harbour City Ferries employs more than 650 people and its fleet consisted of 32 vessels.[7] The government acquired six more ferries in 2017 that were added to the Harbour City Ferries fleet.[8]

In July 2019, Harbour City Ferries commenced a new contract to operate the ferries until June 2028.[9] To coincide with the contract, Harbour City Ferries was rebranded Transdev Sydney Ferries.[10] Its website was updated prematurely in June 2019 to reflect the name change.[11] Ten new River-class ferries were commissioned in 2021.[12] 3 Emerald Class Ferries entered service in 2021 however were briefly withdrawn in 2022 due to multiple steering failures. Six of seven new Parramatta River-class ferries have been introduced with the rest expected to enter service in 2025.[13]

Ferry classes

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Fleet

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See also: List of Sydney Harbour ferries
Sydney Ferries fleet[14]
Vessel Class Service Capacity Speed Length Displacement Routes Origin of name
Freshwater Freshwater 1982 1100 15 kn 70.4 m 1150 t Manly Freshwater Beach
Queenscliff Freshwater 1983 1150 15 kn 70.4 m 1140 t Manly Queenscliff Beach
Narrabeen Freshwater 1984 1100 15kn 70.4m 1150 t Manly Narrabeen Beach
Alexander First Fleet 1985 393 12 kn 25.38 m 105 t Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island

Double Bay

Alexander, part of the 1787 First Fleet
Borrowdale First Fleet 1985 393 12 kn 25.38 m 105 t Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island

Double Bay

Borrowdale, part of the 1787 First Fleet
Charlotte First Fleet 1985 393 12 kn 25.38 m 105 t Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island

Double Bay

Charlotte, part of the 1787 First Fleet
Fishburn First Fleet 1985 403 12 kn 25.38 m 105 t Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island

Double Bay

Fishburn, part of the 1787 First Fleet
Friendship First Fleet 1986 403 12 kn 25.38 m 105 t Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island

Double Bay

Friendship, part of the 1787 First Fleet
Golden Grove First Fleet 1986 403 12 kn 25.38 m 105 t Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island

Double Bay

Golden Grove, part of the 1787 First Fleet
Scarborough First Fleet 1986 403 12 kn 25.38 m 105 t Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island

Double Bay

Scarborough, part of the 1787 First Fleet
Sirius First Fleet 1984 393 12 kn 25.38 m 105 t Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island

Double Bay

HMS Sirius, flagship of the 1787 First Fleet
Supply First Fleet 1984 393 12 kn 25.38 m 105 t Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island

Double Bay

HMS Supply, part of the 1787 First Fleet
Catherine Hamlin[15] Emerald 2017 400 26 kn 36.38 m 40 t Eastern Suburbs, Inner Harbour Catherine Hamlin, obstetrician and gynaecologist
Fred Hollows Emerald 2017 400 26 kn 36.38 m 40 t Eastern Suburbs, Inner Harbour Fred Hollows, ophthalmologist[16]
Victor Chang Emerald 2017 400 26 kn 36.38 m 40 t Eastern Suburbs, Inner Harbour Victor Chang, cardiac surgeon[17]
Pemulwuy Emerald 2017 400 26 kn 36.38 m 40 t Eastern Suburbs, Inner Harbour Pemulwuy, Aboriginal political leader and elder[18]
Bungaree Emerald 2017 400 26 kn 36.38 m 40 t Eastern Suburbs, Inner Harbour Bungaree, Aboriginal explorer and leader
May Gibbs[19] Emerald 2017 400 26 kn 36.38 m 40 t Eastern Suburbs, Inner Harbour May Gibbs[20]
Fairlight Emerald 2021 400 26 kn 36.38 m 40 t Manly Sydney beach[21]
Balmoral Emerald 2021 400 26 kn 36.38 m 40 t Manly Sydney beach[21]
Clontarf Emerald 2021 400 26 kn 36.38 m 40 t Manly Sydney beach[21]
Ruby Langford Ginibi River 2021 200 25 m Inner Harbour, Parramatta River Ruby Langford Ginibi
Esme Timbery River 2021 200 25 m Inner Harbour, Parramatta River Esme Timbery
Margaret Olley River 2021 200 25 m Inner Harbour, Parramatta River Margaret Olley
Olive Cotton River 2021 200 25 m Inner Harbour, Parramatta River Olive Cotton
Ruth Park River 2021 200 25 m Inner Harbour, Parramatta River Ruth Park
Ethel Turner River 2021 200 25 m Inner Harbour, Parramatta River Ethel Turner
Cheryl Salisbury River 2021 200 25 m Inner Harbour, Parramatta River Cheryl Salisbury
Liz Ellis River 2021 200 25 m Inner Harbour, Parramatta River Liz Ellis
Lauren Jackson River 2021 200 25 m Inner Harbour, Parramatta River Lauren Jackson
Kurt Fearnley River 2021 200 25 m Inner Harbour, Parramatta River Kurt Fearnley
Frances Bodkin Parramatta River 2024 200 24 m Parramatta River Frances Bodkin[13]
John Nutt Parramatta River 2024 200 24 m Parramatta River John Nutt[22]
Isobel Bennett Parramatta River 2024 200 24m Parramatta River Isobel Bennett
Martin Green Parramatta River 2025 200 24m Parramatta River Martin Green (professor)
Ruby Payne Scott Parramatta River 2025 200 24m Parramatta River Ruby Payne-Scott
Norman Selfe Parramatta River 2025 200 24m Parramatta River Norman Selfe

Former fleet

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Vessel Class Entered service Retired from service Capacity Length Displacement Routes Origin of name Current status of vessel
Lady Herron Lady 1979 October 2017 550 38.71 m 287t Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo

Double Bay

Leslie Herron Chief justice Scrapped
Lady Northcott Lady 1974 October 2017 800 42.5 m 383t Inner Harbour

Taronga Zoo Double Bay

John Northcott Army General Donated to the Aboriginal cruise company Tribal Warrior in 2021 and was converted to a cruise vessel.
Saint Mary Mackilop SuperCat 2000 December 2021 250 37.76 m 49 t Eastern Suburbs Mary MacKillop Australia's first saint, canonised in 2010 Sold and renamed Hygeia IV
Anne Sargeant Harbourcat 1998 28 July 2022 150 29.6 m 35 t Parramatta River Anne sargeant netballer Sold, currently stored in Brisbane.
Susie O'Neill Supercat 2000 31 August 2022 250 37.76 m 49 t Eastern Suburbs Susie O'Neill swimmer Sold to ZigZag Whitsundays in 2024 and renamed "Super Flyer"
Betty Cuthbert RiverCat 1992 17 February 2023 230 36.8 m 41 t Parramatta River Betty Cuthbert athlete Scrapped
Pam Burridge Harbourcat 1998 26 July 2023 150 29.6 m 35 t Parramatta River Pam Burridge surfer Sold and renamed "Sea Wasp
Collaroy Freshwater 1988 27 September 2023 1150 70.4 m 1140 t Manly Collaroy Beach stored at Cockatoo Island
Louise Sauvage Supercat 2001 22 March 2024 250 37.76 m 49 t Eastern Suburbs Louise Sauvage paralympian Renamed “Louis” and sold to Coral Sea Cruises, Whitsundays.
Supercat 4 Supercat 2001 28 April 2024 250 37.76 m 49 t Eastern Suburbs Fourth Supercat ferry Renamed to "Percat" and sold to Suncity Ferry Services Fiji.
Evonne Goolagong Rivercat 1993 7 June 2024 230 36.8 m 41 t Parramatta River Evonne Goolagong

tennis player

Scrapped
Nicole Livingstone Rivercat 1995 28 October 2024 230 36.8 m 41 t Parramatta River Nicole Livingstone

Swimmer

Scrapped
Marlene Mathews Rivercat 1993 4 February 2025 230 36.8 m 41 t Parramatta River Marlene Mathews

athlete

Scrapped
Marjorie Jackson Rivercat 1993 3 June 2025 230 36.8 m 41 t Parramatta River Marjorie Jackson

Athlete

Scrapped
Shane Gould Rivercat 1993 30 September 2025 230 36.8 m 41 t Parramatta River Shane Gould

swimmer

Scrapped
Dawn Fraser Rivercat 1992 9 March 2026 230 36.8 m 41 t Parramatta River Dawn Fraser

Swimmer

Retired

References

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  1. ^ Annual Report 30 June 2012 Archived 13 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Ferries
  2. ^ "Transfield JV wins Sydney Ferries contract". news.com.au. 3 May 2012. Archived from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  3. ^ Harbour City Ferries Archived 5 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW
  4. ^ "Harbour City Ferries". Harbour City Ferries. 2013. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  5. ^ Private Operator to take control of ferry services Archived 4 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Morning Herald 3 May 2012
  6. ^ Steady as he goes: ferries sail into private hands Archived 31 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Morning Herald 28 July 2012
  7. ^ a b TRANSDEV AUSTRALASIA ACQUIRES 100% OF HARBOUR CITY FERRIES Archived 23 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Transdev Australasia, Published 8 December 2016, Retrieved 19 January 2018
  8. ^ Sydney Ferries FleetArchived 2018-01-19 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 18 December 2017
  9. ^ More ferry services for Sydney after government awards $1.3b contract Archived 10 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Morning Herald 27 February 2019
  10. ^ "Transdev secures €815 million Sydney Ferries renewal contract until 2028". Transdev. 7 March 2019. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  11. ^ "Home Page". Transdev Sydney Ferries. Archived from the original on 19 June 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  12. ^ Anger as Syd ferries to be built overseas Archived 27 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine Canberra Times 23 October 2019
  13. ^ a b Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads (5 March 2024). "New Parramatta River Class Ferry starts sea trials on the Derwent". NSW Government. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  14. ^ Sydney Ferries Fleet Facts Archived 12 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 15 April 2014
  15. ^ "Catherine Hamlin in Hobart – 35m Passenger Catamaran". Incat. Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  16. ^ Incat ferries bound for Denmark & Sydney Harbour The Mercury 21 April 2017
  17. ^ Victor Chang Archived 13 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine Marine Traffic
  18. ^ NSW, Transport for (30 August 2017). "Pemulwuy arrives in Sydney Harbour". www.transport.nsw.gov.au. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  19. ^ Raper, Asleigh (31 January 2018). "Ferry McFerryface gets renamed to May Gibbs". ABC News. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  20. ^ Ferry McFerryface wasn't public pick for new ferry name until Andrew Constance's captain's pick Archived 26 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine Daily Telegraph 30 January 2018
  21. ^ a b c NSW, Transport for (3 February 2021). "New ferries to be named after popular harbour beaches". www.transport.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  22. ^ Investment, NSW Trade and (22 May 2014). "Top gong for engineer who oversaw construction of Sydney icon, revolutionised industry". Chief Scientist. Retrieved 18 July 2024.