Another fail for Sydney’s troubled ferry fleet as Fairlight steering fails for third time in six months

In yet another snag, the Fairlight’s steering has failed for the third time in six months, prompting more criticism of the overseas-built fleet and fresh concerns for passenger safety.

The Emerald class fleet has been plagued by problems since being brought into service. Picture: Adam Yip

Sydney’s problem-plagued ferry fleet has hit another snag, with one of the Emerald class II vessel’s steering failing for the third time in just over six months while in service on Sunday night.

The Daily Telegraph understands the Fairlight’s steering failed at about 7.30pm last night while travelling at high speed.

It’s at least the third time the steering on that specific ferry has failed in just over six months after incidents in September and November.

It’s understood the vessel’s captain managed to get control of the vehicle using a back-up steering system before returning it to dock.

Labor’s shadow transport Minister Jo Haylen said the repeated failures were a “serious risk to passenger safety”.

The Fairlight’s steering has failed at least three times in the pas six months. Picture: Adam Yip

“This overseas built ferry has suffered at least nine steering failures since 2021. It’s beyond a joke and is a serious risk to passenger safety,” she said.

“A Liberal government will keep buying overseas made trains, trams and ferries, putting jobs and passenger safety at risk.

“The only way to fix our public transport and build ferries here again in NSW is to elect a Labor government on Saturday.”

Transport for NSW was contacted for comment.

In February, all three of the problem-plagued new Emerald ferries were docked in a week due to mechanical issues, headlined by an incident in which one of the engines “basically exploded”.

It’s understood oil and shards of metal were sprayed around the engine room of the second generation Emerald ferry the Clontarf when the engine failed.

The Clontarf and the Balmoral, both docked at Balmain Shipyard for repairs last year. Pictures: Justin Lloyd.

No passengers were on board at the time, with the captain of the vessel undertaking training and safety drills when the engine broke down.

The Clontarf – which was docked multiple times last year with cracks in its fuel tank and engine seals – was berthed at Balmain Shipyard following the incident.

A spokesman for ferry operator Transdev confirmed “Clontarf engineers were conducting regular safety drills without passengers on-board (when) one of her two engines failed”.

It’s just the latest in a string off issues which have impacted the fleet since 2021, and in May last year prompted a review after two weeks worth of effects saw one boat suffer steering failure and another spray fuel and hot oil into the engine bay after springing a leak.

Fed up with repeated problems, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is now reviewing issues with the fleet and exploring building the next suite of vessels in Australia.

“We are frustrated by the fact these ferries are going out of service on a too regular basis,” TfNSW chief operations officer Howard Collins, told The Telegraph in May last year.

“We’re reviewing their performance and defects.”

While the generation two ferries were fitted out in Port Macquarie, the bodies were built in China.

Other safety concerns have seen doors on the Emerald ferries had to be locked last year in high wind conditions due to them slamming shut dangerously hard, with an industry source saying a slamming door “near took off a passenger’s fingers”.

In September, a 50kg life raft blew loose and damaged two passenger seats on one of the ferries.

But a bungled attempt to fix the loose life rafts could have been even more dangerous: A Manly ferry travelling between Circular Quay and Manly had its life rafts cable-tied in place in an alarming safety failure which put passengers’ lives at risk.

The cable ties would have stopped the life rafts deploying if the ferry had sunk.

If an emergency had occurred, a crew member would have needed to find the cable ties and cut them off to manually deploy the life rafts.

The cable ties were only removed after they were discovered by ferry crews who deemed them to be unsafe.