Large Manly ferry to return to the harbour – but not before another is lost

One of the large Manly ferries will return to plying the busiest route on Sydney Harbour within the next two months after an extensive refit, but another will be pulled from service indefinitely this week, placing its future in serious doubt.

Ahead of the busy summer period, the NSW government has committed to retaining three of the four Freshwater-class ferries, which are synonymous with the Manly-Circular Quay route.

The Collaroy ferry will be withdrawn from service this week, placing its future in serious doubt.Credit: Dean Sewell

It set aside $71 million in the state budget for extensive refurbishments of the Freshwater-class ferries. The Queenscliff is undergoing its final refit at the navy’s Garden Island dry dock, and will return to service by early November.

The Freshwater ferry and the Queenscliff will be in operation over summer, while the Narrabeen will return to service in the middle of next year following a dry docking at Garden Island. The large vessels will run every hour from mid-December, up from every two hours.

But the Collaroy – the youngest of the four – will be pulled from service as early as Tuesday, ahead of its licence to operate services expiring on Friday.

The government said it would decide the Collaroy’s future following market soundings to start in October for potential electric-powered replacements for the Freshwaters, which would inform a longer-term strategy for the Manly route.

The Queenscliff will return to service for the busy summer months after a major refurbishment.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the Queenscliff’s return in time for summer would be welcomed.

“While it’s sad to see the Collaroy leave our waters, we’re excited to look to the future of our ferries ... [and] plans for a zero-emission fleet,” she said.

The plans for the Freshwater-class ferries have changed several times over the past four years, including a U-turn on the Queenscliff’s retirement in 2021.

Action for Public Transport spokesman Graeme Taylor said the Collaroy was in top condition and should be kept in operation to cater for growing ferry patronage. “There is nothing wrong with the boat – it’s as fit as a fiddle. Scuttling the Collaroy would be very costly, which is the most likely option because the vessel is unlikely to sell to a private operator,” he said.

“The Collaroy could be docked with the Narrabeen next year, reducing maintenance costs for this vessel, which could easily work for the next 15 to 25 years.”

Three smaller Emerald-class ferries that were purchased to replace the larger vessels have been plagued with defects and steering failures since they entered service in late 2021.

Taylor said the second-generation Emerald-class ferries were “just too small” for the Manly route, which experiences high demand over summer.

The Emerald-class vessels have capacity for about 400 people whereas Freshwater-class ferries can each carry more than 1000 passengers.

Named after beaches in Sydney’s north, the first of the double-ended ferries, the Freshwater, was launched in 1982, followed by the Queenscliff less than a year later, the Narrabeen in 1984 and the Collaroy in 1988.

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