Engineering:River-class ferry
 Cheryl Salisbury in September 2023
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Designers Incat Crowther |
| Operators: | Transdev Sydney Ferries |
| Preceded by: | RiverCats |
| Built: | 2020 |
| In service: | 2021 |
| Planned: | 10 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Catamaran |
| Length: | 25 metres |
| Beam: | 7 metres |
| Decks: | 2 |
| Capacity: | 200 |
| Crew: | 3 |
The River Class is a ferry type operated by Transdev Sydney Ferries on Sydney Harbour.
History
In September 2017, Transport for NSW called for expressions of interest for four new ferries for Parramatta River ferry services.[1] However, after the bids were higher than expected, the project was shelved.[2]
Upon being awarded the contract to operate the Sydney Ferries concession in 2019, Transdev Sydney Ferries placed an order for 10 new ferries to be built in Indonesia.[3]
The first four arrived in Newcastle in August 2020 for final works and trials. The ferries were purchased to replace the SuperCat and HarbourCat-class Ferries.[4][5] All were named after artists, athletes and authors.[6]
The first entered service in October 2021, confined to daytime service until deemed suitable for night time operations.[7]
In late 2022 the government announced it was looking for tenders to build a new fleet of RiverClass to replace the RiverCat-class Ferries
Issues and Delays
A number of issues and defects on the ferries, totalling 43, delayed the service commencement dates by well over a year.
Identified issues and delays on the ferries included the presence of asbestos, sub-standard fit and finish, wheelhouse window angles making night operations dangerous, engine stalling, potential of fires or electrocution caused by sub standard electrical equipment and sub-standard steering components.[8][9]
Vessels
| Name | Call sign | MMSI | Shipyard number |
Keel laid | Namesake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethel Turner | 457589 | 503106710 | H388 | 25 February 2020 | Ethel Turner |
| Ruth Park | 457593 | 503106750 | H389 | 29 February 2020 | Ruth Park |
| Cheryl Salisbury | 457597 | 503106690 | H390 | 23 March 2020 | Cheryl Salisbury |
| Lauren Jackson | 458798 | 503106730 | H391 | 23 March 2020 | Lauren Jackson |
| Liz Ellis | 457600 | 503106740 | H392 | 23 March 2020 | Liz Ellis |
| Kurt Fearnley | 457594 | 503106720 | H393 | 23 March 2020 | Kurt Fearnley |
| Olive Cotton | 457555 | 503100450 | H395 | 25 August 2019 | Olive Cotton |
| Margaret Olley | 457590 | 503100470 | H396 | 25 August 2019 | Margaret Olley |
| Esme Timbery | 457595 | 503100460 | H397 | 25 August 2019 | Esme Timbery |
| Ruby Langford Ginibi | 457591 | 503100480 | H398 | 25 August 2019 | Ruby Langford Ginibi |
References
- ↑ New ferries for the Parramatta River Transport for NSW 26 September 2017
- ↑ Purchase of new ferries for Sydney's busy Parramatta River shelved Sydney Morning Herald 1 January 2019
- ↑ McCubbing, Gus (2019-10-23). "Anger as Syd ferries to be built overseas" (in en-AU). https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6454953/anger-as-syd-ferries-to-be-built-overseas/.
- ↑ Asbestos found on new Sydney ferry vessels Nine News 21 August 2020
- ↑ Rabe, Tom (2020-08-23). "'Duck!': The problem with Sydney's new ferries" (in en). https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/duck-the-problem-with-sydney-s-new-ferries-20200821-p55o61.html.
- ↑ Artists, authors and athletes celebrated on new River Class ferries Transport for NSW 2 October 2020
- ↑ First River Class ferry now in service Transport for NSW 13 October 2021
- ↑ Rabe, Tom (2021-05-26). "‘Cheap knock-offs’: More delays for new, problem-plagued Sydney ferries" (in en). https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/cheap-knock-offs-more-delays-for-new-problem-plagued-sydney-ferries-20210526-p57vf2.html.
- ↑ Cabinet, Department of Premier and (2023-06-26) (in en-AU). Australian-made ferries to take to Parramatta River | NSW Government. https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/new-parramatta-river-ferries.
External links
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