Two new ferries for booming Bruny Island ferry route

UPDATED: BRUNY Island’s new ferry service will include two new vessels, an online booking system and double the crossings during peak periods.

The Tasmanian Government has announced that SeaLink Travel Group Limited has been appointed as the new operator of the Bruny Island ferry service. The contract will include SeaLink building two new modern, efficient passenger and car ferries that will provide more frequency, extra capacity and reduce travel time for the Bruny Island community. Picture: SEALINK

UPDATE: BRUNY Island’s new ferry service will include two new vessels, an online booking system and double the crossings during peak periods.

SeaLink Travel Group has been awarded the contract to operate ferry services between Bruny Island and Kettering for the next 10 years, with plans to take over on September 23.

Infrastructure Minister Jeremy Rockliff said two new ferries, worth $10 million, would be built for the route.

The first will be delivered in the second half of next year, and the second in the first half of 2021. After the second vessel is delivered, the Mirambeena will be withdrawn from service.

When SeaLink takes over it will redeploy its vessel the Moongalba from Queensland in place of current secondary vessel the Bowen.

It was revealed during Budget Estimates on Thursday the new ferries would carry only 36 vehicles each, compared to the current service with the Mirambeena (68 vehicles) and the Bowen (30 vehicles).

An artist’s impression of one of the new SeaLink ferries to ply the Kettering to Bruny Island route. Picture: SEALINK

Labor infrastructure spokesman David O’Byrne said this raised questions about the ferries’ ability to handle peak times.

But SeaLink general manager Paul Victory said from 2021 the company would be able to offer crossings every 20 minutes, or three services per hour, during peak season.

This would equate to an extra 10 vehicles per hour.

“Further we will be extending services throughout the day and into the early evening in the peak [season], offering up to 38 [return] crossings per day,” he said.

When the Mirambeena and Bowen run together during peak season, services depart every half an hour for a total of 19 return crossings a day.

Mr Rockliff said an online booking system to prevent delays would also be introduced during next month’s school holidays and be fully active from mid-August. Also expected are more ticketing agents and improved mobile and online communications.

Mr Victory said a variable price model would also ease demand in peak periods

“The booking system for all users will provide certainty for your time of travel, will reduce reliance on queuing for the ferry,” he said. “On every ferry there will be some allocation of space for unbooked travel.”

However, Bruny Island Community Association public officer Megan Weston said there were concerns with the booking system.

“Residents are really opposed to that because nowhere else do people have to book to go home on a daily basis,” she said.

Mr Rockliff said there would be no fare increase for residents, with fees to be maintained at or below annual CPI increases. Mr Victory said 15 staff would be employed and current employees would be offered jobs.

Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania chief Luke Martin said the new model was dramatically different to the existing service.

“There were lots of issues for customers and locals on the island over the past few years,” he said. “They have done a tremendous job but the island has outgrown the service and people expect to book their spot and not wait over an hour to get on.”

Crossings will be guaranteed for emergency services, school buses and regular service providers.

EARLIER: TWO new ferries worth $10 million will be custom-built to service the Kettering-Bruny Island route, the State Government has announced.

Announcing the new contract for the popular service today, Infrastructure Minister Jeremy Rockliff said changes were being introduced to improve services — including more crossings and the phasing in of an online booking system.

SeaLink Travel Group Limited has been awarded the contract to operate ferry services for Bruny Island for the next 10 years.

“SeaLink will build two new ferries, worth more than $10 million, with the first to be delivered in the second half of next year, and the second due in the first half of 2021 after which the Government-owned MV Mirambeena will be withdrawn from service,” Mr Rockliff said.

Crews in Kettering loading traffic onto the Mirrabeena, the larger of the two existing Bruny Island ferries, at the start of the Easter holidays. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

In the meantime, SeaLink will continue operating the MV Mirambeena. From September it will redeploy its own vessel, the MV Moongalba, from Queensland.

“As the popularity of Bruny Island has grown, so has the demands on the ferry and that’s why the Government’s focus has been to provide a service that will best meet the future demands of all users,” Mr Rockliff said.

SeaLink CEO Jeff Ellison said the company was delighted to be expanding operations into Tasmania.

“Bruny Island residents will benefit from SeaLink’s commitment to improved services, the provision of new ferries, ongoing employment opportunities and strong consultation and community engagement.”

Mr Rockliff said there would be no fare increase for Bruny Island residents when SeaLink started operations in September, and residents’ fares would be maintained at or below annual CPI increases for the duration of the contract.

SeaLink would ensure that the use of the ferry was guaranteed for emergency services, school buses and regular service providers and that a standby system would be available for all travel not pre-booked.

Mr Rockliff thanked the Bruny Island Ferry Company and managing director Graeme Phillips, who had operated the service for the past 20 years.