NSW Government quietly shelves plans for ‘Narrabeen’ Freshwater Ferry on Manly route

A five-month old promise to bring a third Freshwater Ferry back into use has been put on indefinite hold. The reason cited marks a worrying sign for other major projects.

The NSW Government has quietly shelved its promise to refurbish a third Freshwater Ferry – just months after committing to bringing the iconic vessel back online.

The Telegraph can reveal plans to bring the much-loved ferry into service have been delayed indefinitely, with the government citing ‘global supply challenges’ in a worrying sign for other major projects in NSW’s pipeline.

Former Transport Minister Rob Stokes promised in December to fit out the Narrabeen ferry with a new engine so it could serve the Manly to Circular Quay route, alongside two other classic Freshwater Ferries saved from the scrap heap following public pressure and a campaign by The Daily Telegraph.

Transport for NSW confirmed to The Telegraph the “Narrabeen engine rebuild project has been delayed by global supply chain challenges”, with no date set for when – or if – the project would be completed.

Paul Garrett, the deputy secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia in Sydney, said Transport Minister David Elliott “should come out and order these iconic Manly ferries back into full service today”.

The Narrabeen is one of four Freshwater Manly ferries threatened to be sent to the scrapheap when replaced by new Emerald Class vessels.

“The big seas we have seen in the last few months have proven that there is still plenty of opportunity for the entire Freshwater-class ferries to be returned to daily service,” he said.

“The NSW Government came out last year and said that the Narrabeen would be readied to go back into service. Nearly six months later, it’s time for Transport Minister David Elliott to honour that promise.”

A Transport for NSW spokesman said the Narrabeen was committed to return at a time when the new problem-plagued Emerald Class ferries servicing the Manly to Circular Quay route were yet to be cleared to operate in 4.5 metre swells.

The new smaller ferries have been beset by issues during their manufacture and testing. Picture: Adam Yip

“The Generation 2 Emerald Class fleet has since cleared all testing and is reliably delivering F1 Manly services,” he said.

“Transport for NSW is committed to having two Freshwater ferries available for service for the foreseeable future.”

The Emerald class ferries have been beset by issues since coming into service, including cracks being found in the hull of one vessel, while another was forced to get repaired after a vibrating propeller caused excessive noise.

Mr Stokes said of the Narrabeen in December “It doesn’t seem sensible to have a perfectly good ferry just sitting there doing nothing when, at a reasonably modest cost, we can have the engine overhauled to get it back into service…”.

Transport Minister David Elliott said “Sydney’s freshwater ferries evoke a sense of romance about our Harbour City’s rich maritime history and I’ll be doing what I can to ensure commuters will be able to catch a Freshwater ferry to retain that connection to the past for as long as possible”.

Originally published as NSW Government quietly shelves plans for ‘Narrabeen’ Freshwater Ferry on Manly route