Manly’s iconic ferries could be retired as faster ferries are announced
Three new smaller ferries will be introduced on the Manly to Circular Quay route next year, as MP James Griffin revealed some of the iconic ferries may be retired.
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Three smaller but faster ferries will join the famous Circular Quay to Manly route next year – slashing the journey time by 10 minutes.
Manly MP James Griffin conceded the move could see two of the four iconic Freshwater vessels retired.
A leaked email from Transdev Sydney Ferries — the operators of the route — said three new Emerald class ferries will be introduced in the second half of next year.
The smaller vessels will reduce travel time by almost 10 minutes to 22 minutes in total.
A Transdev Sydney Ferries spokesman told the Manly Daily the future of the Freshwater class vessels had not been determined.
But Mr Griffin told the Manly Daily that eventually it might mean retiring two of the Freshwater ferries, but he did not “support a retirement of the Freshwater class in its entirety”.
He said he still stood by his vow earlier this year that the iconic Freshwater vessels will not go on his watch.
He said a mix of the two could work together with the Emerald class operating in peak hours and the Freshwater vessels at other times.
“We are trying to improve the frequency of services from Manly to Circular Quay by introducing the Emerald class,” Mr Griffin said.
“This is not at the long term expense of the Freshwater ferries.
“It is clear the community want the Freshwater ferries to stay on the harbour and play a role.
“On my watch we will not lose them.”
Mr Griffin said introducing the Emerald class ferries was about being smarter, improving transport for commuters and increasing competition.
The Transdev spokesman said the new service to start in mid 2020 will run every 20 minutes on weekdays and every 10 minutes on weekends, giving customers more choice as to when to travel.
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The smaller ferries will complete the trip in around 22 minutes, almost 10 minutes faster than the current Manly ferries, putting it in direct competition with the Manly Fast Ferry, which takes 18 to 20 minutes.
The Emerald ferries are faster but can only take 400 passengers, compared to the big iconic Freshwater class vessels — the Collaroy, Freshwater, Narrabeen and Queenscliff — which all have a capacity of 1100.
While these new vessels will complete the popular journey faster, they are significantly smaller, sparking concerns about capacity and the ability to cross Sydney Heads in bad weather, according to Labor’s Shadow Minister for Transport Chris Minns.
“People on the northern beaches of Sydney rely on the Manly ferries as their connection to Sydney’s CBD,” he said.
“They’re being short-changed by this short-sighted decision.
“The Manly ferries are also a must-do experience in Sydney, losing them will not only be a tragedy for the city but chaotic for commuters and tourists.”
Mr Minns slammed Manly MP James Griffin for doing nothing after claiming he would not
“let this happen under his watch”.
“I think the NSW Liberals should come clean about the future of the Freshwater fleet,” he said.
Previously, Martin Byrne, from the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers union, described the plans to bring in the Emerald class vessels on the Manly route as “pure folly”.
He feared the smaller vessels could not cross Sydney Heads in bad weather and also raised capacity concerns.
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