The large Manly ferries will be pulled from service for six weeks to allow critical repairs to a wharf they use at Circular Quay, piling pressure on the smaller vessels left to ply the route as warmer weather attracts larger crowds at weekends.

Wharf two at Circular Quay is set to be closed from October 20 until November 30 for essential maintenance on the berthing face and plates to extend its working life and improve safety for both passengers and vessels.

Wharf two was purpose-built for the large Freshwater-class ferries because of their size and boarding requirements. As a result of its closure, the NSW government said no large Freshwater-class ferries would operate on the Circular Quay-Manly route while the work was carried out.

Smaller Emerald-class ferries, along with Manly Fast Ferry vessels, will continue to operate every 10 minutes from early morning until late evening on the route for seven days a week.

Three of the four large Manly ferries in the state’s fleet have been retained after the government committed $71 million to refurbish the double-ended vessels.

The Narrabeen, which underwent repairs in a dry dock at Sydney’s Garden Island this year, will return to service on the Manly route once the maintenance work on wharf two is completed in late November. The Freshwater, its sister vessel, will then be prepared for a major overhaul.

The Collaroy, the youngest of the four Freshwater-class ferries synonymous with Sydney’s busiest route, was retired two years ago after the government deemed it “prohibitively expensive” due to its “one-of-a-kind build”.

Its fate remains up in the air because of challenges in finding a new owner or community group to look after it.

Transport Minister John Graham thanked passengers for their patience during the six-week closure of wharf two and asked families to consider an earlier or later departure on weekends while the larger ferries were not operating.

The government said it would monitor the situation closely while the large vessels were out and was investigating options to put on more services on the busy route if required.

It advised commuters to plan ahead because there were times when the Manly-to-Circular Quay route might be busier than usual.

The dates for the closure of wharf two will be confirmed shortly.

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