River-class ferry
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 Cheryl Salisbury in September 2023 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | Designers Incat Crowther |
| Operators | Transdev Sydney Ferries |
| Preceded by | RiverCats |
| Built | 2020 |
| In service | 2021 |
| Planned | 10 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Catamaran |
| Length | 25 metres |
| Beam | 7 metres |
| Decks | 2 |
| Capacity | 200 |
| Crew | 3 |
The River class is a ferry type operated by Transdev Sydney Ferries on Sydney Harbour.
History[edit]
In September 2017, Transport for NSW called for expressions of interest for four new ferries for Parramatta River ferry services.[1] However, after the bids were higher than expected, the project was shelved.[2]
Upon being awarded the contract to operate the Sydney Ferries concession in 2019, Transdev Sydney Ferries placed an order for 10 new ferries to be built in Indonesia.[3]
The first four arrived in Newcastle in August 2020 for final works and trials. The ferries were purchased to replace the SuperCat and HarbourCat-class Ferries.[4][5] All were named after artists, athletes and authors.[6]
The first entered service in October 2021, confined to daytime service until deemed suitable for night time operations.[7]
In late 2022 the government announced it was looking for tenders to build a new fleet of River class to replace the RiverCat-class ferries
Issues and Delays[edit]
A number of issues and defects on the ferries, totalling 43, delayed the service commencement dates by well over a year.
Identified issues and delays on the ferries included the presence of 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 and sub-standard steering components.[8][9]
Vessels[edit]
| Name | Call sign | MMSI | Shipyard number | Keel laid | Namesake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethel Turner | 457589 | 503106710 | H388 | 25 February 2020 | Ethel Turner |
| Ruth Park | 457593 | 503106750 | H389 | 29 February 2020 | Ruth Park |
| Cheryl Salisbury | 457597 | 503106690 | H390 | 23 March 2020 | Cheryl Salisbury |
| Lauren Jackson | 458798 | 503106730 | H391 | 23 March 2020 | Lauren Jackson |
| Liz Ellis | 457600 | 503106740 | H392 | 23 March 2020 | Liz Ellis |
| Kurt Fearnley | 457594 | 503106720 | H393 | 23 March 2020 | Kurt Fearnley |
| Olive Cotton | 457555 | 503100450 | H395 | 25 August 2019 | Olive Cotton |
| Margaret Olley | 457590 | 503100470 | H396 | 25 August 2019 | Margaret Olley |
| Esme Timbery | 457595 | 503100460 | H397 | 25 August 2019 | Esme Timbery |
| Ruby Langford Ginibi | 457591 | 503100480 | H398 | 25 August 2019 | Ruby Langford Ginibi |
References[edit]
- ^ New ferries for the Parramatta River Transport for NSW 26 September 2017
- ^ Purchase of new ferries for Sydney's busy Parramatta River shelved Archived 2019-01-02 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Morning Herald 1 January 2019
- ^ McCubbing, Gus (2019-10-23). "Anger as Syd ferries to be built overseas". Canberra Times. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
- ^ Asbestos found on new Sydney ferry vessels Nine News 21 August 2020
- ^ Rabe, Tom (2020-08-23). "'Duck!': The problem with Sydney's new ferries". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2022-02-21. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
- ^ Artists, authors and athletes celebrated on new River Class ferries Transport for NSW 2 October 2020
- ^ First River Class ferry now in service Transport for NSW 13 October 2021
- ^ Rabe, Tom (2021-05-26). "'Cheap knock-offs': More delays for new, problem-plagued Sydney ferries". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2021-12-01. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
- ^ Cabinet, Department of Premier and (2023-06-26). "Australian-made ferries to take to Parramatta River | NSW Government".
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External links[edit]
Media related to River ferry class at Wikimedia Commons