Engineering:Sydney RiverCat

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Short description: Model of ferry used on the Parramatta River
Not to be confused with River-class ferry or Parramatta River-class ferry.
"RiverCat" redirects here. For the Minor League Baseball team, see Sacramento River Cats.

RiverCat
Dawn Fraser in Darling Harbour in December 2014
Class overview
Builders
  • NQEA
  • Wavemaster International
Operators
  • State Transit Authority
  • Sydney Ferries
  • Transdev Sydney Ferries
In service1992-2026
Completed7
ScrappedAll
__1B0X_5H1P__class overview
General characteristics
TypeCatamaran
Length37.0 metres
Beam10.5 metres
Draught1.4 metres
Decks1
Installed power2 x GM 8V92TA
Propulsion2 Shotell rudder/propeller drive
Speed22 knots
Capacity230
Crew3
__1B0X_5H1P__characteristics

The RiverCat was a class of catamarans built for the State Transit Authority for use on the Parramatta River.

History

In 1991 the State Transit Authority ordered six Grahame Parker Design designed RiverCats from NQEA, Cairns to operate Parramatta River services.[1]

Named after famous Australian female athletes, the first was delivered in early 1992.[2] They replaced First Fleet class ferries on the Circular Quay to Meadowbank service on 7 May 1992.[3][4] In December 1993 they began operating to Parramatta.[5][6]

In October 1995, a seventh vessel built by Wavemaster International in Henderson, Western Australia was delivered, named Nicole Livingstone.[7] In 2000, Marlene Mathews participated in the 2000 Summer Olympics torch relay.[8]

Although primarily operating Parramatta River services, they also occasionally operated other Transdev Sydney Ferries services.[citation needed][which?]

The last vessel of the class was withdrawn on the 9 March 2026, with all 7 vessels having been scrapped by May 2026.

File:STA Ferry Rivercat Catamaran Shane Gould arriving Parramatta Wharf.jpg
Shane Gould in original livery, June 2001

Retirement

The introduction of the Parramatta River-class ferries allowed for the RiverCats to be phased out.[9]

File:Scrapping of Rivercat MV Dawn Fraser.jpg
RiverCat Dawn Fraser undergoing scrapping in May 2026

On 16 February 2023, Betty Cuthbert was the first vessel retired from service.[10] She was stripped for parts at Balmain Shipyard before being towed to Blackwattle Bay Marina for long-term storage, along with several decommissioned SuperCat-class ferries.

On 7 June 2024 Evonne Goolagong was withdrawn.[11]Template:Better cite She was used as a parts source at Balmain, before briefly being relocated to Rozelle Bay, along with sister Betty Cuthbert. Both vessels were moved to Rozelle in late June 2024.

In June 2024, Betty Cuthbert and Evonne Goolagong were moved to Yamba by tugboat to be cut up for scrap by Polaris Marine Group.[12]Template:Better cite

On 28 October 2024, Nicole Livingstone was withdrawn from service and was used for parts at Balmain Shipyard before being moved to Rozelle Bay, followed by a final movement to Yamba under tow where she was broken up in early 2025.

On 4 February 2025, Marlene Mathews was withdrawn from service.[13] The vessel was then used for parts at Balmain Shipyard, before being moved via tugboat to Rozelle Bay.

On 3 June 2025, Marjorie Jackson was withdrawn from service.[14] She was then stripped of reusable parts at Balmain Shipyard, before being towed to Rozelle Bay where she was moored alongside sister vessel Marlene Mathews.

On 17 June 2025, MV Marlene Mathews and MV Marjorie Jackson were transferred by tugboat up to Yamba for scrapping.[15] By September 2025 both Marjorie Jackson and Marlene Mathews were scrapped.

On 30 September 2025, MV Shane Gould was withdrawn from service after her 32 year long career.[16] She was used as a parts source until early November 2025, before being briefly moved to Rozelle. In the early hours of 17 November 2025, Shane Gould left Sydney under tow bound for Yamba. She arrived in Yamba in the morning of 19 November 2025, and was put up onto land on 21 November 2025. On 24 November 2025, scrapping began on the MV Shane Gould.[citation needed] By February 2026, scrapping had been fully completed.[citation needed]

MV Dawn Fraser, the last vessel of her class in service, was withdrawn on 9 March 2026, and was transferred to Polaris Marine Group, Rozelle Bay, on 13 March 2026. In the afternoon of 30 March 2026, Dawn Fraser left Sydney under tow for Yamba by Polaris Marine tug Leaders Creek.[17] Arriving at Yamba on 2 April 2026. On 9 April 2026 Dawn Fraser was bought up onto land with scrapping beginning the same day. By 20 May 2026 scrapping on Dawn Fraser was completed.[18][19]

Vessels

Photo of vessel Name Call sign MMSI Builder Shipyard no. Year launched Namesake Notes
150px
MV Betty Cuthbert at Circular Quay, 2016. 		Betty Cuthbert 18555 503376100 NQEA 181 February 1992 Betty Cuthbert Withdrawn 16 February 2023
Dawn Fraser RiverCat ferry
MV Dawn Fraser near Cabarita, 2026. 		Dawn Fraser 18554 503376200 NQEA 180 February 1992 Dawn Fraser Withdrawn 9 March 2026

MV Evonne Goolagong at Cockatoo Island, 2023. 		Evonne Goolagong 18705 503376300 NQEA 186 May 1993 Evonne Goolagong Withdrawn 7 June 2024
150px
MV Shane Gould near Homebush Bay, 2025. 		Shane Gould 18642 503376700 NQEA 184 January 1993 Shane Gould Withdrawn 30 September 2025
150px
MV Marlene Mathews passing Cockatoo Island, 2024. 		Marlene Mathews 18643 503376600 NQEA 185 January 1993 Marlene Mathews Withdrawn 4 February 2025[20]
150x150px
MV Marjorie Jackson near Barangaroo, 2025. 		Marjorie Jackson 18706 503376400 NQEA 187 May 1993 Marjorie Jackson Withdrawn 3

June 2025 [1]

150px
MV Nicole Livingstone at Cockatoo Island, 2024. 		Nicole Livingstone 19044 503241900 Wavemaster International July 1995 Nicole Livingstone Withdrawn 28 October 2024. Built as Nicole Stevenson, renamed after namesake returned to her maiden name.

Attempted preservation

Several attempts have been made to try save the Rivercats, which have all ultimately failed. One of these attempts were made in November 2025 by the owner of Abbotsford point boatshed Roger Kyle, to save the "Shane Gould" and "Dawn Fraser" to be used for Christmas parties and other events along the Parramatta River and Sydney Harbour.[21]

Interior of MV Dawn Fraser

Incidents

In 1997, Marlene Mathews collided into a small wooden boat around Cockatoo Island.[22]

On 23 September 2005, Betty Cuthbert collided into the bollard at Circular Quay Wharf 5 East and damaging the front bow.[23][non-primary source needed]

On 11 January 2006, Betty Cuthbert collided into two moored vessels at Fern Bay.[24][non-primary source needed]

On 7 August 2006, Betty Cuthbert collided into a Luxury Cruiser in Woolwich.[25][26]

On 24 September 2006, Evonne Goolagong collided into a skiff near Cockatoo Island, injuring two people.[27]

On 5 January 2007, Dawn Fraser collided with a dinghy carrying two people. The force of the collision left one of the dinghy's occupants injured while the other occupant was killed.[28][additional citation(s) needed]

On 2 August 2010, Marjorie Jackson collided into the stern of Betty Cuthbert, which then force collided into the stern of the Evonne Goolagong in the Balmain Shipyard, causing Marjorie Jackson's starboard pontoon to be damaged.[29][non-primary source needed]

On 7 October 2013, Marlene Mathews crashed into Circular Quay Wharf 5 West, injuring 6 people and damaging the front bow.[30]

References

  1. ↑ Sydney Ferries Transit Australia September 1991 page 211
  2. ↑ Olympian RiverCats Australian Transport & Distribution Management March 1992 page 1
  3. ↑ Services Fleetline issue 204 July 1992 page 132
  4. ↑ Sydney's New Rivercats Transit Australia August 1992 pages 171-173
  5. ↑ Scenic cruise west in sleek comfort Daily Telegraph Mirror 9 December 1993 page 63
  6. ↑ Timetables and routes Fleetline issue 224 March 1994 page 56
  7. ↑ Sydney Ferries Transit Australia December 1995 page 290
  8. ↑ Olympic Transport in Action Transit Australia December 2000 page 279
  9. ↑ Australian-made ferries to take to Parramatta River Transport for NSW 26 June 2023
  10. ↑ Betty Cuthbert Transdev Sydney Ferries 16 February 2023
  11. ↑ Come for a last ride on our Evonne Goolagong vessel Transdev Sydney Ferries Instagram 5 June 2024
  12. ↑ Polaris Marine Group at Sydney Harbour Heads Polaris Marine Group Facebook 26 June 2024
  13. ↑ "Transdev Sydney Ferries". 4 February 2025. https://www.facebook.com/transdevferriessyd/posts/pfbid08BTGTdvMuD46n9kmeV39VQqHT2Tqd6tbQGtjrcR3J2yW65urRyAbreqo1Xg6Mp5Bl?rdid=tsTr6DfrhV7epRkQ#. 
  14. ↑ "Transdev Sydney Ferries". 3 June 2025. https://www.facebook.com/transdevferriessyd/posts/pfbid0N1Gs1dBfzHoC7ztyp8ksx8DjFWoyngY9WtiF8wgyTt5vgXfrDWb8qzPqC2qsdyJKl?rdid=caNLEWaTVMRTXP6T#. 
  15. ↑ "Polaris Marine Group facebook". 17 June 2025. https://www.facebook.com/polarismarine/posts/pfbid0ErGxMVC6Bfpdb23REhaHmvTUmakBmzSXeB6dSgkWBPHinQ1vYSpdT241p5hvCPmyl?rdid=jWbXCh96ILkug3KE#. 
  16. ↑ "Transdev Sydney Ferries Instagram. "Come for a last ride on the Shane Gould"". 2025-09-26. https://www.instagram.com/p/DPDWhxUk2ao/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link. 
  17. ↑ Reynolds, Ferries of sydney Andrew (30 March 2026). "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". https://www.facebook.com/reel/1285867330172917/. 
  18. ↑ O'Sullivan, Matt (14 January 2026). "Large Manly ferry and last of RiverCats to be turned into scrap metal" (in en). The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/large-manly-ferry-and-last-of-rivercats-to-be-turned-into-scrap-metal-20260112-p5ntc1.html. 
  19. ↑ "MV Dawn Fraser to retire after decades of service on Sydney Harbour". Transport for NSW. 11 March 2026. https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/media-releases/mv-dawn-fraser-to-retire-after-decades-of-service-on-sydney-harbour. 
  20. ↑ "Transdev Sydney Ferries". https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AsEUuR1n7/. 
  21. ↑ O'Sullivan, Matt (2025-11-11). "Sydney water rat’s bid to buy one of last RiverCat ferries torpedoed" (in en). https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sydney-water-rat-s-bid-to-buy-one-of-last-rivercat-ferries-torpedoed-20251105-p5n7w2.html. 
  22. ↑ Chris Cowper (2013-01-22). Rivercat collision c. 1997. Retrieved 2025-12-03 – via YouTube.
  23. ↑ "FERRY SAFETY INVESTIGATION REPORT COLLISION OF RIVERCAT BETTY CUTHBERT NUMBER 5 EAST WHARF, CIRCULAR QUAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2005". 23 February 2006. https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/tp/files/62693/IR-BettyCuthbert-Quay-Sept%2005%20final.pdf. 
  24. ↑ "FERRY SAFETY INVESTIGATION REPORT COLLISION BETWEEN SYDNEY FERRIES' BETTY CUTHBERT AND TWO MOORED VESSELS FERN BAY". 31 July 2006. https://www.otsi.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-06/ferry_safety_investigation_report_fern_bay_collison_betty_cuthbert_moored_vessels_20060111.pdf. 
  25. ↑ Baker, Jordan (2006-08-08). "Sinking feeling on a luckless RiverCat" (in en). https://www.smh.com.au/national/sinking-feeling-on-a-luckless-rivercat-20060808-gdo4p8.html. 
  26. ↑ "RiverCat crash blamed on human error" (in en-AU). ABC News. 2006-08-07. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-08-07/rivercat-crash-blamed-on-human-error/1232964. 
  27. ↑ "Ferry, boat collide on Sydney Harbour" (in en). 2006-09-23. https://www.smh.com.au/national/ferry-boat-collide-on-sydney-harbour-20060924-gdogeh.html. 
  28. ↑ Welch, Dylan (2007-01-05). "Leg lost in horror ferry collision" (in en). https://www.smh.com.au/national/leg-lost-in-horror-ferry-collision-20070105-gdp6hi.html. 
  29. ↑ "COLLISION INVOLVING SYDNEY FERRIES VESSEL MARJORIE JACKSON BALMAIN SHIPYARD". https://www.otsi.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-06/ferry_safety_investigation_report_balmain_shipyard_collision_marjorie_jackson_20100802.pdf. 
  30. ↑ Levy, Megan (2013-10-07). "Six hurt after ferry crashes at Circular Quay" (in en). https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/six-hurt-after-ferry-crashes-at-circular-quay-20131007-2v3hd.html. 

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