NSW Ferry Observations 2019

[bussie]

How many times have they had to upgrade this wharf in the past decade?

Considering the number of times it has appeared on the news as a backdrop for outdoor live reporting during storms, not too surprising that it needs more attention.

[Fleet Lists]

According to the 30th April timetable, Parramatta Wharf upgrades will begin in May
https://transportnsw.info/routes/detail ... s/f3/090F3

Actually it is closed from 30th April with temporary bus route 60f3 replacing it from that date, operated by Transit Systems.

[moa999]

First Fleet fleet to be upgraded
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/fer ... 51jd3.html

[idontknow556]

For the first time ANMM and SHF will be participating in the Transport Heritage expo. SHF will be taking out Lady Hopetoun, ANMM will be taking out Ena

[jpp42]

This would be the first time Ena has sold tickets to the public in years, decades maybe. The old owners would roll over in their grave if they knew the great unwashed public was allowed on board. The fare of $85 is nowhere near high enough for the kind of exclusivity they would have believed the vessel deserves. Although as it is owned by a public museum it's only fair that it be opened.

[Linto63]

Emerald class Fred Hollows was on the Manly run today http://web.archive.org/web/201905190902 ... 3140-imo-0, the result of a breakdown https://transportnsw.info/alerts/details#/6034698. A glimpse of things to come?

[Transport Buff]

Interestingly, according to Anytrip saw Pam Burridge on an F4 service from Pyrmont Bay to Rose Bay. Also, saw Susie O'Neill on an F6 Mosman Bay service.

[idontknow556]

Very Rare sight - Manly Fast ferry - Ocean rider on F4 seen at Pyrmont Bay wharf

[Fleet Lists]

https://transportnsw.info/news/2019/man ... 0#homepage

Manly Fast Ferry stop work action
Tuesday 11 June 2019

Manly Fast Ferry workers will stop work between 10am and 2pm on Wednesday 12 June as part of protected industrial action.

As a result, no Manly Fast Ferry services will operate between 10am and 2pm.

Check travel alerts for the latest information and use the Trip Planner if you need to plan an alternative journey.

All other Harbour City Ferries services, including F1 Manly services, will continue to operate however you are encouraged to check wharf departure and arrival locations prior to travelling.

[Fleet Lists]

https://transportnsw.info/news/2019/man ... e#homepage

Manly Fast Ferry workers will stop work between 5pm and 11pm on Friday 14 June as part of protected industrial action.

As a result, no Manly Fast Ferry services will operate between 5pm and 11pm. The last ferry out of Manly will be leaving at 16.05 on Friday.

All services will operate as normal on Saturday 15 June.

Check travel alerts for the latest information and use the Trip Planner if you need to plan an alternative journey.

All other Harbour City Ferries services, including F1 Manly services, will continue to operate however you are encouraged to check wharf departure and arrival locations prior to travelling and allow for extra travel time.

I suspect "protected" should read "protracted" -same in previous post.

[Nat]

It is protected, a type of industrial action permitted when an enterprise agreement is being negotiated.

[boronia]

Strike to force cancellation of Sydney's fast ferry services
Matt O'Sullivan
By Matt O'Sullivan
June 19, 2019 — 2.29pm

Sydney commuters face further disruptions to fast ferry services after workers called a day-long strike on Thursday as a stand off over a new pay deal escalates.

The strike by about 80 staff employed by the NRMA-owned Manly Fast Ferries will force the cancellation of all fast ferry services on the busy Manly-Circular Quay route, as well as tourist charters and regular services on five other routes on Sydney Harbour.

Manly Fast Ferries and the union representing about 30 vessel masters and 50 deckhands have failed to strike a deal for a new three-year agreement despite negotiating since November.
All services operated by Manly Fast Ferry will be cancelled on Thursday due to strike action.

All services operated by Manly Fast Ferry will be cancelled on Thursday due to strike action.Credit:Ben Rushton

The company is offering staff an immediate pay rise of 10 per cent, followed by annual rises of 2.5 per cent over three years. It has also offered to convert casual workers to permanent status.


But the Maritime Union of Australia claims the offer leaves workers on rates of pay well below the salaries of their counterparts at Transdev, a French company which operates the government-owned fleet of vessels on Sydney Harbour and Parramatta River.

The strike will be the fourth time deckhands and ferry masters have taken action since November but the most significant. The stoppages on other occasions have been shorter.
Ferry masters and deckhands have taken action on several other occasions over the past six months.

Ferry masters and deckhands have taken action on several other occasions over the past six months.Credit:Roger Stonehouse

The other routes affected by the latest strike will be Manly-Darling Harbour, Manly-North Sydney, Manly-Pyrmont, Manly-Taronga Zoo and Circular Quay-Taronga Zoo. Tourist services, including whale watching charters, will also not run.

Manly Fast Ferries chief executive Richard Ford said the planned strike was the latest example of "union militancy gone mad" and accused the MUA of trying to force the company into accepting conditions that would result in a cut to services or higher fares for passengers.

"Since day one, [Manly Fast Ferry] has been committed to paying our staff well, giving them improved conditions and job security – we have delivered on this promise," he said.

But MUA assistant secretary Paul Garrett said the company's pay package would leave workers earning significantly less than their counterparts at Harbour City Ferries, while the offer to convert casuals to permanent status had a number of caveats. "What is being offered is not in line with rates of pay for workers who have to work weekends and night shifts," he said.

The government-owned fleet of ferries operated on Sydney Harbour and Parramatta River by Transdev will not be affected by the day-long strike on Thursday.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/str ... 51z6s.html

[Fleet Lists]

And on Transport Info https://transportnsw.info/news/2019/man ... e#homepage

Manly Fast Ferry stop work action Thursday 20 June
Wednesday 19 June 2019

Manly Fast Ferry workers will stop work between 5am and 11pm on Thursday 20 June as part of protected industrial action.

As a result, no Manly Fast Ferry services will be running on this day.

All services will operate as normal on Friday 21 June.

Check travel alerts for the latest information and use the Trip Planner if you need to plan an alternative journey.

All Transdev Sydney Ferries services, including F1 Manly services, will continue to operate as normal however you are encouraged to check wharf departure and arrival locations prior to travelling and allow for extra travel time.

https://transportnsw.info/alerts/details#/6035981

No Manly Fast Ferries on Thursday 20 June 2019
UPDATED 19 Jun 16:51

Ongoing

Details
Manly Fast Ferry workers will be taking part in protected industrial action between 5am and 11pm on Thursday 20 June 2019. No Manly Fast Ferry services will be running on this day. All services will operate as normal on Friday 21 June 2019. Regular services run by Transdev Sydney Ferries, including F1 services between Manly and Circular Quay, will operate as normal. Customers should check indicator boards for the latest service information and departure locations and allow extra travel time.

[jpp42]

It's worth noting that the pay and conditions received by Harbour City Ferries staff was inherited from Sydney Ferries Corporation, which in turn was inherited from previous public agencies, and was considered extremely generous. I'm having trouble finding details but if I remember correctly they had 7-10 weeks' annual leave as some of it was considered "shore leave" as they were under some ancient agreement that was really intended for offshore sailors. I know this has changed a little bit, but it shows why HCF staff's conditions are so good, and while I appreciate MFF staff's aspirations to match that, they don't necessarily have a raw deal on this comparison alone.

[neilrex]

If there was a proper market economy, then the remedy would be for some of the MFF workers to quit and get jobs with Transdev. MMF would be short of workers and have to raise pay rates to retain existing workers and attract replacements.

That's how "private sector efficiency" is supposed to work.

The neocon economists should hauled out and ask to explain.

[Fleet Lists]

Note special Parramatta ferry timetable for 10th July (State of Origin?) with two extra late trips from Olympic Park to Circular Quay.

[Fleet Lists]

https://transportnsw.info/alerts/details#/6036000

UPDATED 20 Jun 14:02

Ongoing

Details
Buses are replacing F1 Manly Ferries due to maintenance work at Manly Wharf. Allow some extra time and check indicator screens.

Same day as the Fast Ferry is on strike

[jpp42]

https://transportnsw.info/alerts/details#/6036000

UPDATED 20 Jun 14:02

Ongoing

Details
Buses are replacing F1 Manly Ferries due to maintenance work at Manly Wharf. Allow some extra time and check indicator screens.

Same day as the Fast Ferry is on strike

Hmm. Is that some kind of coordinated union thing? The union responsible for maintenance workers ensured that the wharf couldn't possibly be used today?

[Fleet Lists]

And it is one again
https://transportnsw.info/news/2019/man ... day-1-july

Manly Fast Ferry stop work action Saturday 29 June and Monday 1 July
Friday 28 June 2019

Manly Fast Ferry workers will be taking part in protected industrial action during the following times:

6pm to 8pm on Saturday 29 June
9am to 11am on Monday 1 July
2pm to 4pm on Monday 1 July

As a result, there may be some disruption to Manly Fast Ferry services during these times.

Please check travel alerts for the latest information and use the Trip Planner if you need to plan an alternative journey.

All Transdev Sydney Ferries services, including F1 Manly services, will continue to operate as normal however you are encouraged to check wharf departure and arrival locations prior to travelling and allow for extra travel time.

[Fleet Lists]

Nothing during the whole of July but it could not last.
https://www.myfastferry.com.au/2019/08/ ... gust-2019/ New fast ferry timetable from 5th August.

[boronia]

Manly Fast Ferry cuts non-peak services by quarter as passengers drop

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/man ... 52dve.html

[Fleet Lists]

https://transportnsw.info/alerts/details#/6038450
From Monday 23 September until midnight Friday 4 October, F5 Neutral Bay ferries will not stop at Kirribilli Wharf.

[mandonov]

Is there a reason why the ferry-bus interchange at Chiswick wasn't improved during the recent upgrade? I mean you can't even really call it an interchange as is with a 250m uphill walk between the wharf and nearest bus stop.

[mandonov]

Moving this from the discussion in Railway Obs, where Sydney Ferries patronage has slightly dropped in three years.
It's specific ferry lines that keep shedding patronage that bring down the network as a whole.

Three year trend:



Recent YoY comparison from months without Manly Fast Ferry strikes or last year's Biennale at Cockatoo Island.



The F4 Cross Harbour and F7 Double Bay have been very good introductions, with more combined patronage than the previous F4 and F7 had. F8 is also growing nicely since becoming a dedicated line from the F3, and the Stockton Ferry continues to grow thanks to its fare integration with buses and service frequency boost.
The drop in F3 Parramatta River patronage can be attributed to the split into F3 and F8, as well as the 6 wharf closures (on F3 only) for upgrades in this time period.

As for the losses, I don't think it's particularly surprising that they're all on the North Shore. F1 Manly has extremely strong competition from the Fast Ferry, and it's clear that speed and quasi-Opal acceptance has been a boon for the private operator. If we want to see this corridor grow then we seriously need to consider merging these contracts, or at least bringing private operators onto the overall network similar to buses. It's unacceptable that the marquee ferry service on Sydney Harbour has dropped almost 30% in 3 years.

F2, F5, and F6 are in my opinion all dropping due to frequency, or the lack thereof. Every 30 minutes in peak is just not attractive to people when they are likely close to a more frequent bus. I think it's a smart decision to merge the Mosman Bay and Taronga Zoo lines to achieve a 20 minute frequency on a combined F2/F6, but for this grouping of lines what's really needed are smaller and faster ferries that can be run more frequently with less crew per vessel. Something the size of or smaller than a HarbourCat (150ppl) running every 10-15 minutes would attract more passengers to the service.

[Fleet Lists]

As for the losses, I don't think it's particularly surprising that they're all on the North Shore. F1 Manly has extremely strong competition from the Fast Ferry, and it's clear that speed and quasi-Opal acceptance has been a boon for the private operator. If we want to see this corridor grow then we seriously need to consider merging these contracts, or at least bringing private operators onto the overall network similar to buses. It's unacceptable that the marquee ferry service on Sydney Harbour has dropped almost 30% in 3 years.

This could well be the reason for the proposed retirement of the current Manly ferries and a replacement could well be a combined contract for the two services.