Struggling Port Phillip Ferries commuter service could take tourism turn

MELBOURNE’S new commuter ferry trial could be turned into a tourism service amid continuing poor patronage on weekdays.

The Port Phillip Ferries service continues to struggle. Picture: Mark Wilson

MELBOURNE’S new commuter ferry trial could be turned into a tourism service amid continuing poor patronage on weekdays.

Port Phillip Ferries will review fares on its Wyndham Harbour to Docklands service, and next week will hold a one-day trial of a route between Portarlington and Docklands.

Owned by prominent businessman Paul Little, the ferry started running in May with hopes that traffic congestion in the western suburbs would fill the 400-seat catamaran with eager commuters.

However, the company’s operations director Murray Rance said that despite fares being slashed to match the price of a train ticket, passenger numbers for daily services were disappointing.

“It gets into double figures but certainly not enough to sustain a service,” he said.

Mr Rance said there had been encouraging feedback from locals for the Portarlington trial, which will take about 88 minutes from the Bellarine Peninsula to Docklands.

“We’re just hopeful that people embrace this because you’ve got to have bums on seats, you just can’t run this thing empty,” he said.

The ferry service is owned by prominent businessman Paul Little (right). Picture: David Caird

The Portarlington trial will be held on Friday July 29 with a $25 adult return fare, $10 for children aged 15-18 and children under 15 free.

Mr Rance said that the Wyndham Harbour ferry service was more popular on weekends and the company had done well with special trips to the Werribee Zoo, while timetables were being considered to cater for retirement villages.

Special services from Wyndham to the Friday Docklands Fireworks start on Friday and will run to August 26.

Port Phillip Ferries is conducting so-called wave and safety trials on the Yarra River in a bid to convince authorities to increase the current 6-10 knots speed limit for its vessels.

The company is also due to brief the Andrews Government on the overall progress of the venture over the next few weeks.

@JMasanauskas