Transdev Sydney Ferries

Transdev Sydney Ferries

Industry	Ferries
Predecessor	Sydney Ferries
Founded	28 July 2012
Headquarters	Sydney , Australia
Area served	Port Jackson Parramatta River
Services	Ferry operator
Parent	Transdev Australasia
Website	www.beyondthewharf.com.au/

Logo of Harbour City Ferries until its rebranding in 2019

Transdev Sydney Ferries, formerly Harbour City Ferries, is a subsidiary of Transdev Australasia, and is the operator of ferry services in the Sydney Ferries network since July 2012. It currently operates the ferry network under a contract until June 2028. As part of the operation contract, Transdev Sydney Ferries leases both the Balmain Maintenance Facility and the fleet from the government agency Sydney Ferries. ^[1]

History

In 2011, the NSW government decided to contract out ferry services to the private sector. Harbour City Ferries was formed as a 50/50 joint venture between Transfield Services (later Broadspectrum) and Veolia Transdev (later Transdev). In May 2012, Harbour City Ferries was announced as the successful tenderer to operate the services on a seven-year contract starting 28 July 2012. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

In December 2016, Harbour City Ferries became fully owned by Transdev Australasia after Transdev bought out Broadspectrum's 50% shareholding. ^[7] As of December 2016 ^[update] , Harbour City Ferries employs more than 650 people and its fleet consisted of 32 vessels. ^[7] The government acquired six more ferries in 2017 that were added to the Harbour City Ferries fleet. ^[8]

In July 2019, Harbour City Ferries commenced a new contract to operate the ferries until June 2028. ^[9] To coincide with the contract, Harbour City Ferries was rebranded Transdev Sydney Ferries. ^[10] Its website was updated prematurely in June 2019 to reflect the name change. ^[11] Ten new River-class ferries were commissioned in 2021. ^[12] 3 Emerald Class Ferries entered service in 2021 however were briefly withdrawn in 2022 due to multiple steering failures. Six of seven new Parramatta River-class ferries have been introduced with the rest expected to enter service in 2025. ^[13]

Ferry classes

• 
  Freshwater-class ferry since 1982 (Freshwater)
• 
  First Fleet-class, since 1984 (Scarborough)
• 
  RiverCat class ferry, since 1992 (Shane Gould)
• 
  Emerald-class ferry, since 2017.
  (Bungaree)
• 
  River-class, since 2021.
  (Ruth Park)
• 
  Parramatta River-class, since 2024.
  (Frances Bodkin)

Fleet

See also: List of Sydney Harbour ferries

Sydney Ferries fleet ^[14]

Vessel	Class	Service	Capacity	Speed	Length	Displacement	Routes	Origin of name
Freshwater	Freshwater	1982	1100	15 kn	70.4 m	1150 t	Manly	Freshwater Beach
Queenscliff	Freshwater	1983	1150	15 kn	70.4 m	1140 t	Manly	Queenscliff Beach
Narrabeen	Freshwater	1984	1100	15kn	70.4m	1150 t	Manly	Narrabeen Beach
Alexander	First Fleet	1985	393	12 kn	25.38 m	105 t	Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island Double Bay	Alexander, part of the 1787 First Fleet
Borrowdale	First Fleet	1985	393	12 kn	25.38 m	105 t	Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island Double Bay	Borrowdale , part of the 1787 First Fleet
Charlotte	First Fleet	1985	393	12 kn	25.38 m	105 t	Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island Double Bay	Charlotte , part of the 1787 First Fleet
Fishburn	First Fleet	1985	403	12 kn	25.38 m	105 t	Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island Double Bay	Fishburn, part of the 1787 First Fleet
Friendship	First Fleet	1986	403	12 kn	25.38 m	105 t	Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island Double Bay	Friendship , part of the 1787 First Fleet
Golden Grove	First Fleet	1986	403	12 kn	25.38 m	105 t	Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island Double Bay	Golden Grove, part of the 1787 First Fleet
Scarborough	First Fleet	1986	403	12 kn	25.38 m	105 t	Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island Double Bay	Scarborough , part of the 1787 First Fleet
Sirius	First Fleet	1984	393	12 kn	25.38 m	105 t	Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island Double Bay	HMS Sirius, flagship of the 1787 First Fleet
Supply	First Fleet	1984	393	12 kn	25.38 m	105 t	Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island Double Bay	HMS Supply, part of the 1787 First Fleet
Dawn Fraser	RiverCat	1992	230	22 kn	36.8 m	41 t	Parramatta River	Dawn Fraser, swimmer
Catherine Hamlin [15]	Emerald	2017	400	26 kn	36.38 m	40 t	Eastern Suburbs, Inner Harbour	Catherine Hamlin, obstetrician and gynaecologist
Fred Hollows	Emerald	2017	400	26 kn	36.38 m	40 t	Eastern Suburbs, Inner Harbour	Fred Hollows, ophthalmologist [16]
Victor Chang	Emerald	2017	400	26 kn	36.38 m	40 t	Eastern Suburbs, Inner Harbour	Victor Chang, cardiac surgeon [17]
Pemulwuy	Emerald	2017	400	26 kn	36.38 m	40 t	Eastern Suburbs, Inner Harbour	Pemulwuy, Aboriginal political leader and elder [18]
Bungaree	Emerald	2017	400	26 kn	36.38 m	40 t	Eastern Suburbs, Inner Harbour	Bungaree, Aboriginal explorer and leader
May Gibbs [19]	Emerald	2017	400	26 kn	36.38 m	40 t	Eastern Suburbs, Inner Harbour	May Gibbs [20]
Fairlight	Emerald	2021	400	26 kn	36.38 m	40 t	Manly	Sydney beach [21]
Balmoral	Emerald	2021	400	26 kn	36.38 m	40 t	Manly	Sydney beach [21]
Clontarf	Emerald	2021	400	26 kn	36.38 m	40 t	Manly	Sydney beach [21]
Ruby Langford Ginibi	River	2021	200		25 m		Inner Harbour, Parramatta River	Ruby Langford Ginibi
Esme Timbery	River	2021	200		25 m		Inner Harbour, Parramatta River	Esme Timbery
Margaret Olley	River	2021	200		25 m		Inner Harbour, Parramatta River	Margaret Olley
Olive Cotton	River	2021	200		25 m		Inner Harbour, Parramatta River	Olive Cotton
Ruth Park	River	2021	200		25 m		Inner Harbour, Parramatta River	Ruth Park
Ethel Turner	River	2021	200		25 m		Inner Harbour, Parramatta River	Ethel Turner
Cheryl Salisbury	River	2021	200		25 m		Inner Harbour, Parramatta River	Cheryl Salisbury
Liz Ellis	River	2021	200		25 m		Inner Harbour, Parramatta River	Liz Ellis
Lauren Jackson	River	2021	200		25 m		Inner Harbour, Parramatta River	Lauren Jackson
Kurt Fearnley	River	2021	200		25 m		Inner Harbour, Parramatta River	Kurt Fearnley
Frances Bodkin	Parramatta River	2024	200		24 m		Parramatta River	Frances Bodkin [13]
John Nutt	Parramatta River	2024	200		24 m		Parramatta River	John Nutt [22]
Isobel Bennett	Parramatta River	2024	200		24m		Parramatta River	Isobel Bennett
Martin Green	Parramatta River	2025	200		24m		Parramatta River	Martin Green (professor)
Ruby Payne Scott	Parramatta River	2025	200		24m		Parramatta River	Ruby Payne-Scott
Norman Selfe	Parramatta River	2025	200		24m		Parramatta River	Norman Selfe

Former Fleet

Vessel	Class	Entered service	Retired from service	Capacity	Length	Displacement	Routes	Origin of name	Current Status of vessel
Lady Herron	Lady	1979	October 2017	550	38.71 m	287t	Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo Double Bay	Leslie Herron Chief justice	Scrapped
Lady Northcott	Lady	1974	October 2017	800	42.5 m	383t	Inner Harbour Taronga Zoo Double Bay	John Northcott Army General	Donated to the Aboriginal cruise company Tribal Warrior in 2021 and was converted to a cruise vessel.
Saint Mary Mackilop	SuperCat	2000	December 2021	250	37.76 m	49 t	Eastern Suburbs	Mary MacKillop Australia's first saint, canonised in 2010	Sold and renamed "Hygeia IV"
Anne Sargeant	Harbourcat	1998	28 July 2022	150	29.6 m	35 t	Parramatta River	Anne sargeant netballer	Sold, currently stored in Brisbane.
Susie O'Neill	Supercat	2000	31 August 2022	250	37.76 m	49 t	Eastern Suburbs	Susie O'Neill swimmer	Sold to ZigZag Whitsundays in 2024 and renamed "Super Flyer"
Betty Cuthbert	RiverCat	1992	17 February 2023	230	36.8 m	41 t	Parramatta River	Betty Cuthbert athlete	Scrapped
Pam Burridge	Harbourcat	1998	26 July 2023	150	29.6 m	35 t	Parramatta River	Pam Burridge surfer	Sold and renamed "Sea Wasp
Collaroy	Freshwater	1988	27 September 2023	1150	70.4 m	1140 t	Manly	Collaroy Beach	stored at Cockatoo Island
Louise Sauvage	Supercat	2001	22 March 2024	250	37.76 m	49 t	Eastern Suburbs	Louise Sauvage paralympian	Renamed “Louis” and sold to Coral Sea Cruises, Whitsundays.
Supercat 4	Supercat	2001	28 April 2024	250	37.76 m	49 t	Eastern Suburbs	Fourth Supercat ferry	Renamed to "Percat" and sold to Suncity Ferry Services Fiji.
Evonne Goolagong	Rivercat	1993	7 June 2024	230	36.8 m	41 t	Parramatta River	Evonne Goolagong tennis player	Scrapped
Nicole Livingstone	Rivercat	1995	28 October 2024	230	36.8 m	41 t	Parramatta River	Nicole Livingstone swimmer	Scrapped
Marlene Mathews	Rivercat	1993	4 February 2025	230	36.8 m	41 t	Parramatta River	Marlene Mathews athlete	Scrapped
Marjorie Jackson	Rivercat	1993	3 June 2025	230	36.8 m	41 t	Parramatta River	Marjorie Jackson athlete	Scrapped
Shane Gould	Rivercat	1993	30 September 2025	230	36.8 m	41 t	Parramatta River	Shane Gould swimmer	Scrapped

References

1. Annual Report 30 June 2012 Archived 13 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Ferries
2. "Transfield JV wins Sydney Ferries contract". news.com.au. 3 May 2012. Archived from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
3. Harbour City Ferries Archived 5 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW
4. "Harbour City Ferries". Harbour City Ferries. 2013. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
5. Private Operator to take control of ferry services Archived 4 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Morning Herald 3 May 2012
6. Steady as he goes: ferries sail into private hands Archived 31 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Morning Herald 28 July 2012
7. TRANSDEV AUSTRALASIA ACQUIRES 100% OF HARBOUR CITY FERRIES Archived 23 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine , Transdev Australasia, Published 8 December 2016, Retrieved 19 January 2018
8. Sydney Ferries Fleet Archived 2018-01-19 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 18 December 2017
9. More ferry services for Sydney after government awards $1.3b contract Archived 10 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Morning Herald 27 February 2019
10. "Transdev secures €815 million Sydney Ferries renewal contract until 2028". Transdev. 7 March 2019. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
11. "Home Page". Transdev Sydney Ferries. Archived from the original on 19 June 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
12. Anger as Syd ferries to be built overseas Archived 27 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine Canberra Times 23 October 2019
13. Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads (5 March 2024). "New Parramatta River Class Ferry starts sea trials on the Derwent". NSW Government . Retrieved 9 March 2024.
14. Sydney Ferries Fleet Facts Archived 12 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 15 April 2014
15. "Catherine Hamlin in Hobart – 35m Passenger Catamaran". Incat. Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
16. Incat ferries bound for Denmark & Sydney Harbour The Mercury 21 April 2017
17. Victor Chang Archived 13 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine Marine Traffic
18. NSW, Transport for (30 August 2017). "Pemulwuy arrives in Sydney Harbour". www.transport.nsw.gov.au. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
19. Raper, Asleigh (31 January 2018). "Ferry McFerryface gets renamed to May Gibbs". ABC News . Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
20. Ferry McFerryface wasn't public pick for new ferry name until Andrew Constance's captain's pick Archived 26 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine Daily Telegraph 30 January 2018
21. NSW, Transport for (3 February 2021). "New ferries to be named after popular harbour beaches". www.transport.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
22. Investment, NSW Trade and (22 May 2014). "Top gong for engineer who oversaw construction of Sydney icon, revolutionised industry". Chief Scientist. Retrieved 18 July 2024.