Alarming photo shows new, smaller, Manly ferry battling massive Sydney storm swells

Critics of the new, smaller Manly ferries say alarming photos of a vessel being tossed about by this week’s storm swell is evidence they are not suitable for the run across The Heads.

Alarming photographs have emerged of one of the new, smaller, Manly ferries struggling through heavy swells on Sydney Harbour.

One of the dramatic images shows the bow of the 35m vessel crashing over the top of a massive wave, close to Sydney Heads, with its stern almost swamped by water.

An Emerald Generation 2 ferry, the Fairlight, used on the Manly to Circular Quay route, smashes through huge swells near Sydney Heads during sea trials on Sydney Harbour on Thursday. Picture: Mark Crawley

Another photo, captured on Thursday, shows the “Fairlight” one of the three new Emerald Class Generation 2 ferries introduced to eventually replace the fleet of larger Freshwater-class vessels on the busy Manly to Circular Quay run, pitching heavily to the port, or its left hand side, with water close to the top of its gunwale as it battles the turbulent swell.

These pictures were taken as the ferry was undergoing sea trials during the height of the severe weather caused by this week’s east coast low. They were captured by a passenger on the old “Freshwater” ferry as it made its way across the Heads.

The Fairlight pitches to port as it battles large swells during sea trials near Sydney Heads on Thursday. Picture: Mark Crawley

The NSW Government and Transdev, which operates Sydney Harbour ferry services on behalf of the government, have repeatedly said the Gen 2 Emerald ferries were purpose-built to operate in heavy swells up to 4.5m and have been fitted with wave-piercing twin hulls.

But critics of the Government’s decision to dump the current fleet in favour of the new vessels say the images are proof they are “out of their depth” when it comes to tackling large swells rolling though Sydney Heads.

The bow of the Fairlight, which has wave-piercing twin hulls, is well out of the water. Picture: Mark Crawley

A Save the Manly Ferry Alliance spokesman, Richard Dunn, said the ferries should only be used on inner-Harbour commuter routes, and taken off the Manly run.

“In (the) potentially lethal conditions it’s plain to see, the Emeralds are out of their depth,” Mr Dunn said.

“I can’t imagine a ferry master risking it, with passengers.

The Fairlight in gentler conditions at Circular Quay. Picture: Adam Yip

“The Freshwater class are the only ferries built for the purpose of traversing the Sydney Heads, and there are no concerns about passenger safety with them.”

Northern Beaches deputy mayor, Candy Bingham, who has supported a campaign to return the current ferry fleet, said the images left no doubt that the Emerald class ferries were not suitable for the Manly to Circular Quay route.

“This demonstrates what the Save the Many Ferry people and I have been saying from day one, that these ferries are inner-harbour ferries and just not suitable for the heads and open water,” Ms Bingham said.

The “Freshwater” ferry heading out through the swell between the Heads on Wednesday. Supporters of the older ferries say they can cope much better with the big seas. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“When I saw those photographs I was just sick to my stomach.

“All you need in conditions like that is just one big wave and the boat would be swamped.”

Ms Bingham said the government must reintroduce, and refurbish, all of the four Freshwater-class ferries to the Manly run.

The government must also prepare a five-year plan setting out a “like for like” replacement option, with the new ferries to be powered by electric engines.

The Freshwater smashes through the heavy swell across the Heads on Wednesday. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Since its introduction the new Emerald fleet has been dogged by problems including a window smashed by a large wave, cracks in the welding joins in the hull, a propeller shaft failing, bolts on a rudder came loose.

A new gangway had to be installed at Manly Wharf because the passengers could not be loaded or unloaded in an extremely low tide. The gangway became too steep.

A Transdev spokesman said that Sydney Harbour’s newest ferries were “trialled this week as part of rigorous testing for full clearance to operate passenger services in the swell conditions for which the vessels have been purpose built.

“The trials were operated by Transdev’s highly experienced crews in night and daytime conditions on Sydney Harbour and has been followed by a risk assessment.”