Smooth sailing for Bruny ferries during post-Christmas holiday rush

Bruny Island ferry queues have kept moving at a steady pace – despite the absence of SeaLink’s new vessel – as thousands of people headed to the island.

BOXING Day has passed without the traditional long queues for the Bruny Island ferry.

Operator Sealink has three vessels operating today – the Mirambeena, the Bowen and the Moongalba – on a high-frequency timetable.

Traffic controllers were on hand during the day to keep things tidy, although local residents reported queues were not as bad as those seen in previous years.

BRUNY ISLAND POWER CABLE IRREPARABLY DAMAGED

Cars are driven onboard one of the three Bruny Island ferries as the summer holiday rush reaches its peak. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Also absent was the new ferry, which was supposed to have started service in recent days. The new $7.5 million SeaLink vessel was expected to be in service before Christmas Day.

The new ferry has a vehicle deck for 36 cars and a passenger lounge for 80 people.

The MV Bowen makes its way from Kettering towards Bruny Island. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Richardson Devine Marine has also started construction on a second new ferry for the service, scheduled for delivery by April 2021, after which the 30-minute turnaround will shorten to 20 minutes.

SeaLink ferry the Moongalba in action on the Bruny Island ferry run. Picture: MATT THOMPSON