First of new ferries sails into Sydney weeks before starting services

The first of seven new ferries has sailed into Sydney Harbour after a three-day voyage from a shipbuilding yard in Hobart, to start on the Parramatta River route within the next few weeks amid surging demand.

The multimillion-dollar fleet of catamaran ferries will replace seven Rivercat vessels, which will be scrapped after three decades on the river and harbour.

Premier Chris Minns on the deck of the Frances Bodkin, which is the first of seven new ferries.Credit: Steven Siewert

In darkness, the Frances Bodkin slipped into Sydney Harbour shortly before 8.30pm on Saturday after sailing 630 nautical miles (1170km) on its maiden voyage from Hobart, having overnighted at Flinders Island and Eden.

Premier Chris Minns said the new ferries would give passengers more reliable services, comfortable seating, greater accessibility and upgraded safety, while acting as a “shot in the arm for Australian domestic manufacturing”.

“It’s something that we’ve believed in since prior to the election – a key election promise from the NSW government. We’d like to see more of it,” he said. “The state is open for business for Australian building firms that want to produce transport infrastructure.”

The latest figures show patronage on the Parramatta River route rose to almost 219,000 trips in February, up 24 per cent on last year and higher than the 191,000 in February 2020, shortly before patronage slumped due to the pandemic.

The Frances Bodkin is tied up at Rozelle Bay after her three-day voyage from Hobart.Credit: Steven Siewert

Action for Public Transport spokesman Graeme Taylor said the new ferries were too small to cope with the surging patronage on the Parramatta River route, increasing the likelihood of people being left behind on wharves.

“The existing Rivercats can carry 230 passengers and have more space to stand and for people to put luggage, prams and surfboards. The new ferries are registered for 200 people but will feel full at 150,” he said.

However, Transport Minister Jo Haylen said she had received advice the new ferries would meet the demand. “We’re hopeful also that because these new ferries will be more reliable, it will also ensure there are fewer cancellations and delays for passengers,” she said.

The $48 million cost of the new ferry fleet includes the bill for scrapping the decades-old Rivercats, which Haylen said were not fuel efficient and “no longer fit for purpose”. Transport officials said buyers could not be found for the vessels.

The Frances Bodkin will undergo sea trials before the first passengers board in the next few weeks. The vessel will operate mostly on the F3 route between Parramatta and Circular Quay.

The other six Parramatta-class ferries under construction at Richardson Devine Marine in Hobart are due to enter passenger service progressively over the next 18 months.

In January, an extra seven services were put on the Parramatta River route each weekday between Circular Quay and Olympic Park and an additional 26 on weekends.

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