Derwent Ferries launches new ferry services for Ashes and Saturdays

Boatloads of cricket fans will soon be sailing across the River Derwent, with another new ferry service launching specially for the fifth Ashes Test. DETAILS >>

Boatloads of cricket fans will soon be sailing across the River Derwent, with another new ferry service launching specially for the fifth Ashes Test.

The extra Ashes ferry services will be running in addition to the new Saturday timetable, which was revealed on Tuesday and kicks into effect this weekend.

From December 18, ferries will depart Bellerive Pier on Saturday from 9am, 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, and 3.30pm towards Hobart.

The Hobart-to-Bellerive service will depart the Brooke Street Pier Saturdays from 9.30am, 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm.

Ferry arriving at Bellerive. First day of operation for the new Derwent Ferry service between Bellerive and the city. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

On top of these, Clarence City Council will be pitching in $50,000 for extra services during the Ashes period.

Clarence mayor Doug Chipman said he was looking forward to welcoming cricket fans to Bellerive in style.

“It gives our visitors and everyone attending the match the opportunity to enjoy the ambience of the river – a lot of people just love being on the ferry,” Mr Chipman said.

“I most certainly will be attending [the Ashes] and I hope to get there every day, because I am certainly a follower of cricket, although I have never been very good.”

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Hobart City Council will be subsidising the summer timetable until February, but if it proves sufficiently popular there is scope for the Saturday service to become a permanent one.

Hobart lord mayor Anna Reynolds said she hoped the ferry would bring more tourists into Salamanca Markets and allow more locals to explore their inner city over the weekend.

“It really covers the whole day, which allows people to come in, visit the markets, visit the city … have a really good solid day out and about and then get back home,” Councillor Reynolds said.

“There’s incredible value in using the river for transport for our big events during summer, whether that’s New Year’s Day on the Hobart waterfront, Salamanca Market, The Taste of Summer, or whether it’s the Ashes cricket.”

ON BOARD: Hobart City Mayor Anna Reynolds and Clarence City Mayor Doug Chipman announce the new Saturday ferry timetable. Picture: Kenji Sato

Like the weekday services, the Saturday services will be free for all passengers and will not require a booking.

Ferry timetables can be found on the Derwent Ferries’ website, however the Ashes timetable is yet to be finalised.

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