Ferry Observations 2024

[Fleet Lists]

Happy New Year.

[Transport Buff]

The Manly to Watsons Bay ferry service has resumed, operated by Fantasea Crusing.

https://www.fantasea.com.au/sydney-harb ... bay-ferry/
https://www.myfastferry.com.au/fantasea ... tsons-bay/

[boronia]

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/syd ... 5ezdd.html

More than 20 of Sydney’s most iconic ferry wharves – including Manly and Circular Quay – were in such dire need of repairs that a review found they were a major safety risk that could lead to injuries or even fatalities, prompting an urgent maintenance blitz.

Some of the wharves were deemed as being an “imminent asset failure” in a wharf maintenance review for Transport for NSW and required “repair within one month” to ensure staff and commuter safety and to prevent electrocutions and drownings.

The internal wharf maintenance review, obtained by the Herald under freedom of information laws, found that almost 20 per cent of the state’s 122 public ferry wharves needed critical repairs.

A spokesperson for Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the “initial wharf maintenance review” found 24 wharves were “very high risk” and needed immediate repairs.

“This number was reduced to zero within the last three months of 2023,” the spokesperson said.

“These measures were taken after the Maritime team at Transport for NSW launched a proactive and preventative maintenance strategy.”

The maintenance review, completed in the second half of last year, found that ferry wharves including Balmain East, Circular Quay, Milsons Point, Walsh Bay, King Street, White Bay and Aquarium at Darling Harbour were classed as “very high risk” or “high risk”.

These ratings meant that there was a risk of “a single fatality and/or 10 to 20 serious injuries or illnesses to staff/customer/community” if the wharf was not immediately repaired.

Some of the risks included “exposure to source of electricity” and drownings.
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The maintenance report found that Old Cremorne wharf was in “poor condition overall”, while there was a risk of a sea wall collapse at Balmain East wharf requiring “emergency works”.

One of Manly’s wharves had “fire services, electrical and hydraulic compliance issues” which needed urgent attention, while there were “structural defects” at Milson Point (Luna Park).

Other wharves deemed high risk included Huntleys Point, Greenwich Bay Street, Meadowbank, Cremorne Point, Kurraba Point, Hunters Hill, Longueville and Woolwich.

Haylen’s spokesperson said after further investigations 19 wharves were repaired and the risk level of five wharves – including Neutral Bay, Rose Bay, Rozelle Bay and Snails Bay – were downgraded.

The spokesperson said the Maritime Infrastructure Delivery Office was “erring on the side of caution” when they gave some of the wharves the “very high risk” rating.

“The Maritime Infrastructure Delivery Office also introduced and reinforced safety protocols, including stringent operational procedures, regular safety checks, and continuous scheduled monitoring of these wharves,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said, “if a wharf is not safe, then it is shut”.

“The risk matrix refers to categories of potential risk so that work can be done at the wharves where it is needed most,” the spokesman said.

“While there is still more work to be done when it comes to improving our ferry wharves across Sydney, we have made solid progress and have reduced the number of wharves that were most at risk from 24 to zero.”

Maintenance work carried out at wharves in the last three months of 2023:

Huntleys Point
Greenwich Bay Street
Neutral Bay
Meadowbank
Balmain East
Cremorne Point
Manly Fun Pier
Old Cremorne
Kurraba Point
Circular Quay
Manly Wharf
Hunters Hill
Longueville
Woolwich
Milsons Point
Walsh Bay
King St
White Bay
Aquarium, Darling Harbour

[Nath91!]

Wasn't Balmain East Wharf completely rebuilt just a few years ago?

[Linto63]

Yes, along with a few others on the list. Balmain East's problem appears to have been with the sea wall rather than the wharf itself.

[Nath91!]

Probably from all the buses crashing through it.

[Linto63]

Sea wall has been totally rebuilt since a couple of incidents in the 1980s.

[boronia]

FRom Chris Minn's FB page

We're permanently increasing Freshwater Ferry trips between Manly and Circular Quay to once every hour.

[tonyp]

EXCLUSIVE
Kincoppal-Rose Bay and Kambala partner for new ferry service across ‘beautiful’ Sydney Harbour

Two elite Sydney girls’ private schools have partnered to create a new ferry service across the “beautiful sparkling” Sydney Harbour with hopes of “taking cars off our busy roads”.
Aymon Bertah

less than 2 min read
February 2, 2024 - 4:38PM
Wentworth Courier
Kincoppal - Rose Bay Principal Erica Thomas with students on the new ferry service.
Kincoppal - Rose Bay Principal Erica Thomas with students on the new ferry service.


Two elite Sydney girls’ private schools have partnered to create a new ferry service across the “beautiful sparkling” Sydney Harbour, with a principal saying it will help take “cars off our busy roads”.

Kincoppal-Rose Bay and Kambala have teamed up with Sealink and Captain Cook Cruises to provide the alternative transport option for students and staff with the ferry route from Circular Quay via Cremorne Point to Watsons Bay with the same return route in the afternoon.

The arriving ferry will be met at Watson’s Bay Pier by a Kincoppal-Rose Bay shuttle bus which will transport students and staff to both schools.

Kincoppal – Rose Bay Principal Erica Thomas said she had been working with Kambala Principal Jane Danvers to secure this new transport option which will benefit families and staff from each school.

“We have very much seen eye-to-eye and have been mutually committed to this initiative from the outset,” she said.
Kincoppal – Rose Bay Principal Erica Thomas and Kambala Principal Jane Danvers boarding the ferry.
Kincoppal – Rose Bay Principal Erica Thomas and Kambala Principal Jane Danvers boarding the ferry.
Students boarding the new ferry service which will depart Circular Quay in the morning.
Students boarding the new ferry service which will depart Circular Quay in the morning.

“It makes so much sense for our schools to collaborate to bring this about given our proximity to each other and the harbour. Aside from the convenience factor, we are putting into practice our commitment to taking opportunities to foster sustainability where possible as this will be taking cars off our busy roads.

“And what a beautiful way to commute to school, across our beautiful sparkling harbour.”

Ms Danvers was equally as “delighted” with the “fantastic initiative”.
The service plans to help take more cars off the roads.
The service plans to help take more cars off the roads.

“Kambala has current and future families that reside on the North Shore, and this fast and efficient service will provide their daughters and our staff with an ideal ferry to school transport solution,” she said.

Given the service will leave the Circular Quay transport hub, it will now open up further travel possibilities for families and staff members of both schools who may be travelling further up the Parramatta River from areas such as Balmain who may now consider connecting ferries.

It will also open up further options to students and staff from other parts of Sydney through the train system.

[Randomness]

“ ‘Basically exploded’: Chinese-made ferry engines ripped out”

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/ ... 071d4acec0

I have no access to the article due to not having subscribed. If anyone does have access, please do copy the article in because it looks interesting.

The headline also confirms the theory that the Yanmar engines were subcontracted out and could use lower spec parts that weren’t designed for the 100% engine usage on crossings.

[Randomness]

I’ve also found a media release:

https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/l ... d-mark-iis

Local workforce to re-engine Emerald Mark IIs

Sydney’s three Second Generation Emerald Class vessels will be fitted with new, heavier duty engines ensuring safer, smoother and more frequent journeys along the city’s most popular ferry route.

Balmoral was removed from passenger service on 4 February for about 10 weeks for the new engine to be fitted. Once the Balmoral is back in service the Clontarf will be taken out of service, with the Fairlight planned to undergo an engine change in late August.

Transdev Sydney Ferries is starting the re-fitting program after the busy summer holidays. Each vessel will be dry-docked one at a time, to reduce timetable disruption.
The F1 Manly service will continue operating the extended summer timetable with two Freshwater class vessels and two Emerald Class.

The re-engine program will be carried out at the Balmain Shipyard by Transdev Sydney Ferries, with around 30 people working on the project. The cost of the re-fitting program will be paid for by Transdev Sydney Ferries.
Once the engines are installed, Transdev will conduct extensive sea trials with Health and Safety Representatives and industry regulators.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:
“These overseas-built ferries had a challenging start to their time on the harbour, but these new engines will mean the ferries will spend less time out of service and more time serving passengers.

“By re-fitting the vessels with hydrogen fuel capable equipment, we are also moving forward on future proofing the Sydney ferry fleet.

“Passengers can still enjoy a trip on the Harbour between Manly and Circular Quay on the iconic Freshwater Class vessels which are now running twice as often, offering more choice and increasing capacity on the popular F1 route.”

Funnily enough, it was released exactly 1 year after Clontarf’s engine failure.

[Fleet Lists]

The heading of the Telegraph article appears to refer to the full Emerald fleet as does the first sentence
"Emerald ferries to finally get motors replaced after years of steering failures and engine faults

The engines of Sydney’s troubled Emerald ferry fleet will be ripped out after years of embarrassing breakdowns repeatedly forced the vessels out of service."
But when you get to the details it only appears to refer to the three Manly ones which have not been in service for years.
"The engines of the blighted Emerald ferry fleet will be ripped out and replaced with new heavy duty motors, with the NSW government driven to the move after years of embarrassing breakdowns repeatedly forced the vessels out of service.

The second generation Emerald vessels servicing the Manly to Circular Quay route will be taken off the water, one at a time, for the work.

It is believed it will take up to 10 weeks for each vessel to have its engine replaced, with ferry operator Transdev to shoulder the cost.

It comes following dozens of problems being logged on the fleet since it was introduced in 2021.

The Telegraph reported a year ago all three generation two Emerald ferries – the Balmoral, Clontarf and the Fairlight – were all taken offline at the same time with mechanical issues.

This included problems with the engine of the Clontarf which “basically exploded”, spraying oil and shards of metal around the engine room. "

[Glen]

I don't know if it has been reported previously that F3 services now run every 20 minutes (instead of 30 minutes) as far as Olympic Park during off-peak hours on weekdays and also during the day on weekends.

[Nat]

I don't know if it has been reported previously that F3 services now run every 20 minutes (instead of 30 minutes) as far as Olympic Park during off-peak hours on weekdays and also during the day on weekends.

To fix the significant over crowding that has resulted from the introduction of the new and much smaller river class ferries......

[tonyp]

To fix the significant over crowding that has resulted from the introduction of the new and much smaller river class ferries......

Do you mean the River Cat ferries that have a capacity of 230, compared to the Parramatta River Class that have a capacity of 200?

[Glen]

I don't know if it has been reported previously that F3 services now run every 20 minutes (instead of 30 minutes) as far as Olympic Park during off-peak hours on weekdays and also during the day on weekends.

To fix the significant over crowding that has resulted from the introduction of the new and much smaller river class ferries......

Even in the off-peak?

[boronia]

FRom Chris Minn's FB page

We're permanently increasing Freshwater Ferry trips between Manly and Circular Quay to once every hour.

A new timetable dated 5/3 has Freshwater services reverting to 2-hourly frequency.

Comments on a FB page suggest it has suffered some propellor problems. Must be serious if it wasn't just covered in a service alteration alert?

[Linto63]

If it requires dry docking and with Garden Island I believe the only option, it may take some time to get a slot.

[Transport Buff]

7 NEWS mixing up their facts....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDxGFt9Nk7I

0:42 Indonesian built RiverCats...showing a perfectly operating RiverCat (actually built in Queensland).

The newer (River Class) vessels from Indonesia are what they're actually referring too smh

[Linto63]

First of the Parramatta River Class has commenced trials. Appears similar to the River class but with outside seating at the stern rather than on the rooftop. Bet the crews won't miss having to deal with the idiots who don't get that they have to be seated.

[boronia]

From Jo Haylen MP Facebook today:

This just in: Australian-made ferry Frances Bodkin has just started her first passenger service along the Parramatta River!

[Linto63]

Queenscliff out today on a proving run to Manly.

[lunchbox]

Ferries only giving one "toot" when backing out of CQ & B'roo.
I thought backing out required 3 "toots'.
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