Navy pulls rank as repairs to defective warship add to Manly ferry woes

A large Manly ferry’s return to passenger service has been delayed by a year after it was bumped from planned repairs in a dry dock at Sydney’s Garden Island by one of the navy’s defect-plagued Spanish-built warships.

The ferry Narrabeen was due to start undergoing repairs to its hull in a dry dock at Garden Island next week, which were to include a fresh lick of paint and inspections of its propeller and rudder.

HMAS Supply in better times at Garden Island in 2021 when it was officially commissioned.Credit: ADF

However, one of the navy’s newest warships, HMAS Supply, has jumped the queue because it needs a fix to what senior naval officials have described as a “complex defect”.

Transport for NSW confirmed that the Narrabeen had been bumped and was now expected to be put in the dry dock next February before returning to the Manly-Circular Quay route in May or June next year.

“The dry dock was required for repairs to one of [the navy’s] vessels, resulting in the delay of the planned docking of the Narrabeen vessel until early next year,” it said.

The latest delay for the Narrabeen means the well-known ferry will have been out of service for about three years by the time it leaves dry dock and returns to the Manly run.

The Narrabeen at Cockatoo Island on Thursday, where it is stuck with sister ship, Collaroy.Credit: Edwina Pickles

The navy has always reserved the right to remove a commercial vessel from docking for the prioritisation of any works to its warships. Neither the navy nor dry-dock operator Thales is financially liable for any delay to the Narrabeen’s dry docking.

The large size of the Freshwater-class ferries means the Narrabeen has no choice but to wait to get into Garden Island. No other local facility can accommodate it.

Sister ferry Queenscliff returned to service last November after two new 2.5-metre propellers were installed during its dry-docking at Garden Island, joining lead ship Freshwater on the Manly route.

The state government is spending $71 million on extensive refurbishments of three of the four Freshwater-class ferries, which covers the cost of dry docking.

The dry dock at Garden Island in Sydney.Credit: Louie Douvis

Action for Public Transport spokesman Graeme Taylor said the navy had overreacted and could have allowed Narrabeen to be dry-docked because HMAS Supply did not need to be out of the water for the entirety of the repair process at Garden Island.

“It is a kneejerk response. You can refloat HMAS Supply while you’re awaiting delivery of parts,” he said. “The risk is that this whole process could go on and on, and the Narrabeen might not return to the harbour until October or November next year.”

A spokesperson for Transport Minister Jo Haylen said it was disappointing that the Narrabeen could not enter dry dock this month, but the needs of the navy and national defence “always come first”.

Two weeks ago, a Senate estimates hearing was told that HMAS Supply could be stuck at Garden Island for another year after spending the past 14 months tied up there for repairs.

Senior navy officials described the latest problem with a 19-tonne shaft in HMAS Supply as a “complex defect”, which was discovered during repairs to the warship over the past year.

A Defence spokesperson did not answer specific questions about HMAS Supply’s repairs at Garden Island, confirming only that her sister ship, HMAS Stalwart, is also in port in Darwin for an extended period due to engine defects.

The two warships, which were commissioned in 2021, were built by the Spanish company Navantia as part of a $1.34 billion project. They carry fuel, dry cargo, ammunition, and other supplies and equipment.

The youngest of the four large Manly ferries, Collaroy, was pulled from service last September and is almost certain to be retired because its operational and maintenance requirements are different from those of the other three Freshwater-class vessels.

Transport for NSW said it expected a decision within the next few months on the Collaroy, which is tied up at Cockatoo Island alongside Narrabeen.

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