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River-class ferry

Not to be confused with Parramatta River-class ferry or Sydney RiverCat.
River class
Cheryl Salisbury in September 2023
Class overview
BuildersDesigners Incat Crowther
OperatorsTransdev Sydney Ferries
Preceded byRiverCats
Built2020
In service2021
Planned10
General characteristics
TypeCatamaran
Length25 metres
Beam7 metres
Decks2
Capacity200
Crew3

The River class is a ferry type operated by Transdev Sydney Ferries on Sydney Harbour.

History

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Interior passenger saloon of Kurt Fearnley

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 Parramatta River-class ferries to replace the RiverCat-class ferries

Issues and delays

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A number of issues and defects on the ferries, totalling 43, delayed the service commencement dates by well over a year.[when?]

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

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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

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  1. ^ New ferries for the Parramatta River Transport for NSW 26 September 2017
  2. ^ Purchase of new ferries for Sydney's busy Parramatta River shelved Archived 2019-01-02 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Morning Herald 1 January 2019
  3. ^ McCubbing, Gus (2019-10-23). "Anger as Syd ferries to be built overseas". Canberra Times. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  4. ^ Asbestos found on new Sydney ferry vessels Nine News 21 August 2020
  5. ^ Rabe, Tom (2020-08-23). "'Duck!': The problem with Sydney's new ferries". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2022-02-21. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  6. ^ Artists, authors and athletes celebrated on new River Class ferries Transport for NSW 2 October 2020
  7. ^ First River Class ferry now in service Transport for NSW 13 October 2021
  8. ^ Rabe, Tom (2021-05-26). "'Cheap knock-offs': More delays for new, problem-plagued Sydney ferries". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2021-12-01. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  9. ^ Cabinet, Department of Premier and (2023-06-26). "Australian-made ferries to take to Parramatta River | NSW Government". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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Media related to River ferry class at Wikimedia Commons