New NSW ferries see problems soar as questions raised over Metro’s future

Major problems plaguing Sydney’s ferries more than doubled after the new fleet arrived, it can be revealed— while the cost of the Metro West could see the project shelved for good.

Sydney’s stricken ferry fleets recorded a 134 per cent jump in major problems – ranging from steering failures to engine breakdowns – from 2021 to 2022, driven by the introduction of new overseas-built vessels.

Transport documents seen by The Telegraph outline the deep-running issues across the city’s ferries, with 121 problems logged from August 2020 to March 2023.

It comes as internal government briefings also revealed the Sydney Metro West is expected to cost $25 billion – the first time the cost of the project has been confirmed and raising concerns over its delivery.

Briefings revealed ferry problems soared dramatically from 29 reports in 2021 to 68 in 2022 – a 134 per cent rise – following the introduction of the much maligned second generation Emerald Class ferries on the Manly to Circular Quay route.

A further breakdown shows the Emerald Class ferries accounted for 52 reports between August 2020 and March this year.

Sydney’s ferry fleet has had an 134 per cent spike in major issues. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

The ferry fleets are already on track to exceed last year’s number of issues this year, with 23 instances logged in just three months from January to March.

NSW Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said foreign-made ferries – including the China-built second-generation Emeralds and the River Class fleet built in Indonesia – had been responsible for the bulk of reported issues.

“The vast majority of defects in the fleet were found on ferries built overseas,” she said.

“That’s why the new Minns Labor government will be making changes to our procurement policies so we can build the next generation of ferries here.”

Ms Haylen revealed to The Telegraph last month before Labor’s election win that she would carry out a “root and branch review” into the troublesome ferry fleets “so we can fix these problems for good”.

The Maritime Union of Australia’s Paul Garrett said the jump in instances logged from 2021 – when the second generation Emerald ferries were introduced – “practically demonstrates why we need to build our buses, trains and ferries in Australia”.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen has promised to build future generations of the ferries here. Picture: Dylan Coker

“The jump in incidents directly relates to the foreign-built ferries coming online,” he said.

A log of the issues reveals major problems which went unreported at the time, such as an engine failing on River Class ferry the Olive Cotton on August 3 last year, which resulted in the wind blowing the vessel into a wharf.

While there were no injuries, it left a one-metre gash on the vessel which had to be docked at Balmain Shipyard.

It comes as internal government briefings revealed the cost of the Metro West, which is slated to connect the Sydney CBD and Parramatta by 2030, would be $25 billion, raising concerns over the project’s future.

Sydney Metro West project has been costed at about $25b.

A Labor spokesman hinted the project could be delayed, saying “Sydney Metro West needs to be delivered in a cost-effective way. Taxpayers should have confidence they are getting the best value for money:

“We are concerned that the former government did not do enough to ensure value for taxpayers,” they said.

The funding challenges facing Labor have already resulted in them pulling out of major projects mooted by the Coalition government, including the construction of a tunnel under a portion of the Blue Mountains and two Metro extensions in western Sydney.

Originally published as New NSW ferries see problems soar as questions raised over Metro’s future