Sydney Ferries

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Sydney Morning Herald --> Sydney's new ferries running late amid fresh safety concerns $

Sydney's new, problem-plagued River Class ferries will enter service almost a year late, with the NSW government blaming the pandemic for the delay, as fresh concerns emerge the boats can stall under emergency conditions.

The 10 vessels, which were initially scheduled to be operating on Sydney Harbour by mid-2020, have not yet been given the green light to enter service, with testing crew recently warning the ferries can stall when put into reverse during emergency stops in extreme conditions.
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Sydney Morning Herald --> One of Sydney's last grand dames set to return to harbour $

After more than three years tied up at wharves awaiting its fate, one of Sydney's last Lady-class ferries will once again become a regular sight on the harbour.

Ownership of the Lady Northcott, which plied Sydney Harbour for four decades, will be transferred from the state to the country's largest Aboriginal maritime charity, Tribal Warrior, which will repair the vessel following a $300,000 government grant. ...

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https://twitter.com/AndrewConstance/status/1421221734070378497

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Sydney Morning Herald --> Emerald ferries sail into Sydney Harbour on way to replacing Freshwaters $

Three new Emerald-class ferries have sailed into Sydney Harbour but will likely enter service several months late when they finally replace the iconic Freshwater-class vessels.

The new ferries were meant to enter service in mid-2021, but must first pass stringent sea trials, which are expected to take several weeks, if not months. ...

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Sydney Morning Herald --> New Sydney ferries will only operate when the sun is up  $

Sydney's new, problem-plagued River-class ferries will only be able to operate during daylight hours when they enter service more than a year late, with the private operator yet to find a solution to ongoing night-time safety concerns.

A design fault in the wheelhouse of the ferries is causing reflection issues for the crew at night, with significant structural rectification work to address the problem likely to take months. ...

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https://twitter.com/smh/status/1429237666835570694

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https://twitter.com/UrbanFerryist/status/1448076848135475200

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https://twitter.com/UrbanFerryist/status/1455680593987964928

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1464969860539039747

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SMH --> Cracks found in brand new Sydney Harbour ferry $

A number of cracks have been discovered in the hull of one Sydney's new Manly ferries, with an independent report identifying several welding defects on the vessel.

A spokeswoman for private ferry operator Transdev confirmed to the Herald on Monday that several welding defects had been identified onboard the Emerald-class Balmoral.

While a source speaking on the condition of anonymity said there were more than 20 cracks identified in the hull, the Transdev spokeswoman said "a number" of welding defects had been found.

"A potential defect was identified in the weld of a secondary support structure inside a hull void of the Emerald Class vessel Balmoral during a routine inspection," the spokeswoman said.

"[A] surveyor report confirmed a number of welding defects that are minor, isolated, and do not compromise the overall structural integrity of the vessel. Such welding defects are not uncommon and will not impact the Balmoral's operation."  ...

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https://twitter.com/abcnews/status/1469039610776866816

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ABC News --> The 99-year-old former Manly ferry MV Baragoola sinks in Sydney Harbour

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SMH --> More than 40 defects discovered in new Sydney Harbour ferries $

Sydney Harbour's new River-class ferry fleet was riddled with more than 40 defects after the vessels arrived in NSW from Indonesia.

The government confirmed 43 defects were identified across the 10 vessels, which are undergoing substantial rectification work to their cabins so they can operate after sunset.

"As part of the acceptance process for the River-class fleet, 43 defects were raised across the 10 vessels," the government said in answers to supplementary budget estimates questions provided to NSW Parliament. ...

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SMH --> Leaked memo warns new Manly ferries risk becoming airborne in heavy swells $

Captains of the new Manly ferries have been warned not to sail directly into waves near the entrance to Sydney Harbour in heavy swells in case their vessels become airborne, a leaked internal memo has revealed.

The advice was to masters of the second generation Emerald-class ferries, which are at the centre of a fierce debate over whether they can handle large swells as well as the larger Freshwater vessels they are designed to replace on the Manly-Circular Quay route. ...

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SMH --> Damage to new Manly ferries to worsen, leaked report says $

Damage discovered on a new Manly ferry just months after it began carrying passengers is expected to worsen and occur on the other overseas-built vessels now used on the popular Sydney harbour route, a leaked report warns.

Independent inspectors found a deformed plate, buckling to a crucial internal rod, and cracked coatings and welds near the front of the new Fairlight ferry in April not evident during an examination about four months earlier.

They warned that similar damage appeared to be on the Balmoral, one of the three new Emerald-class ferries which sail between Circular Quay and Manly. The Balmoral was not subject to the same inspection as the Fairlight in April. ...

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https://twitter.com/ChrisMinnsMP/status/1560183978073772034

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https://twitter.com/Mattonews/status/1574351871732744192

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1594332101364457472

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Sydney Morning Herald --> New Manly ferry suffers another steering failure near Sydney Heads $

A new Manly ferry has suffered another steering failure near the entrance to Sydney Harbour less than two months after a similar incident forced the operator to urgently pull the catamaran and two sister vessels from service.

Multiple sources said the Fairlight's steering system failed near Sydney Heads on Saturday morning while carrying passengers from Manly to Circular Quay.

Control of the steering was eventually restored and the ferry continued onto Circular Quay, but the vessel has since been pulled from service and tied up at the Balmain shipyards. ...

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1622965703983919107

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Sydney Morning Herald --> New Manly ferry suffers another steering failure on Sydney Harbour $

One of the new Manly ferries has suffered another steering failure on Sydney Harbour, forcing the operator to pull the troubled vessel from service amid ongoing concerns about defects plaguing the three catamarans purchased to replace larger Freshwater ferries.

The failure of the Fairlight's steering occurred at about 7.30pm on Sunday evening while the ferry was sailing from Circular Quay to Manly, and resulted in it swerving to port, according to multiple sources. The ferry was carrying about 150 passengers.

Following the incident, the Chinese-built catamaran ferry was removed from regular passenger service and is now docked at the Balmain shipyard. ...

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Daily Telegraph --> New NSW ferries see problems soar as questions raised over Metro's future $

Sydney's stricken ferry fleets recorded a 134 per cent jump in major problems – ranging from steering failures to engine breakdowns – from 2021 to 2022, driven by the introduction of new overseas-built vessels.

Transport documents seen by The Telegraph outline the deep-running issues across the city's ferries, with 121 problems logged from August 2020 to March 2023. ...

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https://twitter.com/UrbanFerryist/status/1647798630177443841

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https://twitter.com/UrbanFerryist/status/1661157854668275713

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1666069419863445504

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https://x.com/ChrisMinnsMP/status/1728916083367879166?s=20

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https://x.com/9NewsSyd/status/1764549511362281717?s=20

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https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1771950957129068723?s=20

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Sydney Morning Herald --> First of new ferries sails into Sydney weeks before starting services $

The first of seven new ferries has sailed into Sydney Harbour after a three-day voyage from a shipbuilding yard in Hobart, to start on the Parramatta River route within the next few weeks amid surging demand.

The multimillion-dollar fleet of catamaran ferries will replace seven Rivercat vessels, which will be scrapped after three decades on the river and harbour.

In darkness, the Frances Bodkin slipped into Sydney Harbour shortly before 8.30pm on Saturday after sailing 630 nautical miles (1170km) on its maiden voyage from Hobart, having overnighted at Flinders Island and Eden.

Premier Chris Minns said the new ferries would give passengers more reliable services, comfortable seating, greater accessibility and upgraded safety, while acting as a "shot in the arm for Australian domestic manufacturing". ...

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https://x.com/UrbanFerryist/status/1771865904382431541?s=20

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https://x.com/TransportforNSW/status/1806145427953320040

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Extra services for F3 Parramatta River ferry route

https://transportnsw.info/news/2024/extra-services-for-f3-parramatta-river-ferry-route

Ferry passengers travelling on the F3 Parramatta River route between Circular Quay and Sydney Olympic Park will gain new services from July 1, with an extra seven trips to be added to the timetable on weekdays.

These permanent extra services will include four departures from Circular Quay in the morning and three from Sydney Olympic Park in the afternoon, lifting the frequency in both directions. ...

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https://x.com/trashyhonky/status/1809463452613714211