On the Ferries

[#Metro]

^^^ This is quite interesting! 
I hope they do this for buses too!

[SteelPan]

Time for all Brisbane ferry stops to have real time electronic destination boards - so people know exactly where the next ferry to arrive is headed - obviously, doubly important in the pitch blackness of night on the river.

Thoughts pls?   :conf

[somebody]

It's a nice to have, not a core functionality.  So long as the timetable can be read at night it's OK.

[SurfRail]

More important (and easier to implement) on the actual ferries. 

The second and third generation CityCats already have desto boards, as do the 3 double-deck monohulls, so it's only the 8 first generation ones which need them fitted.  The other monohulls just have the route on a metal placard in the window and it works fine.

[WTN]

The deckhand can also announce the destination when stopping, or simply upstream/downstream, as I've heard on one occasion. In the long term, the remaining fleet should be fitted with signs.

[SteelPan]

Time to Nighlink Inner City Cross River Services on Fri and Sat Nights!

[SurfRail]

Time to Nighlink Inner City Cross River Services on Fri and Sat Nights!

That's a very reasonable suggestion.  I'd think making the Holman-Eagle-Thornton ferry and the Bulimba-Teneriffe ferry run after hours on Friday/Saturday would be feasible.

[#Metro]

That's a very reasonable suggestion.  I'd think making the Holman-Eagle-Thornton ferry and the Bulimba-Teneriffe ferry run after hours on Friday/Saturday would be feasible.

I think it is a worthwhile idea to consider - that said, I've been thinking the BUZ 199 should be turned into a 24 hour service on all days of the week. Maybe not 15 minute frequency at night, but 20 minutes might be a goer.

[somebody]

Time to Nighlink Inner City Cross River Services on Fri and Sat Nights!

That's a very reasonable suggestion.  I'd think making the Holman-Eagle-Thornton ferry and the Bulimba-Teneriffe ferry run after hours on Friday/Saturday would be feasible.

Playing devil's advocate, the N226 covers Bulimba, but I can't criticise the former!

[SurfRail]

Playing devil's advocate, the N226 covers Bulimba, but I can't criticise the former!

Reasonable point, but connection to the CityGlider would be a plus and may mean you can revisit the routing for the N226.

Late night ferries would probably be useful for places like the Story Bridge Hotel, the Jazz Club etc (although I think the Jazz Club may have a noise curfew anyway).

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Teen rower severely injured in CityCat collision

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> here!

Wartime tug back on the water

Wartime tug back on the water (01:36)

Brisbane coal-powered tugboat Forceful returns to the water Monday, being guided along the Brisbane river for repairs to a hole in her engine room to "get her back in the water".

[ozbob]

Twitter

Vanessa Croll ‏@VanessaCroll

CityCat leaving regatta terminal. Cold and super foggy morning! Happy weekend. http://pic.twitter.com/Td6NYoor

[ozbob]

http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/details/1340849912

New CityHopper ferry

From Sunday 1 July, the new CityHopper service will make it even easier to 'hop' along the river.

The CityHopper will run every 30 minutes from 6am until midnight, seven days a week.

No need to touch on with your go card (or purchase a paper ticket) - travel free on the CityHopper from New Farm (Sydney Street ferry terminal) to North Quay, stopping at Dockside, Holman Street, Eagle Street Pier, Thornton Street, Maritime Museum, and South Bank 3 terminals.

CityHopper is funded by Brisbane City Council.

[ozbob]

http://www.grahamquirk.com.au/articles/lord-mayor-s-free-inner-city-ferry-off-to-a-hopping-start.html

Lord Mayor's free inner city ferry off to a hopping start

Written on the 18th of July 2012

Brisbane's first free inner-city ferry service is off to a successful start with patronage numbers more than doubling in its first two weeks.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said since beginning on July 1, residents and visitors had been taking full advantage of being able to enjoy key inner-city locations at no cost.

"In just its first 14 days of service as the rebranded CityHopper, patronage has soared with a daily average of 2,500 passengers," Cr Quirk said.

"When we launched the CityHopper, I said it was a deliberate ploy to boost tourism and give ferry patronage a shot in the arm, and these results are a positive indication of delivering.

"I encourage residents and tourists to give the CityHopper a go."

The CityHopper service runs to local destinations including New Farm, South Bank and the CBD seven days a week from 6am to midnight, timetabled every half an hour.

Cr Quirk said since January the CityFerry and CityCat networks had also received a much needed boost.

"The Brisbane River is one of our city's greatest assets and there's been a resurging interest among residents and visitors using the river as a transport network, which helps reduce traffic congestion on our roads," he said.

"The overall network has had a boost of more than 15 per cent since January, while CityCat services have jumped more than 9 per cent."

The service stops at New Farm (Sydney Street), South Bank (Terminal 3), North Quay, South Brisbane (Maritime Museum), Kangaroo Point (Dockside, Holman Street and Thornton Street) and the Brisbane CBD, with the total return journey taking around 90 minutes.

In Council's 2012-13 Budget, funding was also allocated for a new CityCat terminal at Milton, as well as upgrades to improve accessibility at other CityCat terminals throughout the city.

[nathandavid88]

I saw quite a lot of people on the top deck of the City Hoppers that went past yesterday (George's Paragon is a great ferry-watching location, for the record). Seems like the Mayor's plan for the City Hoppers has actually worked reasonably well. Good to see people using the old mono-hulls again. City Cat services to Oxford St Bulimba were at capacity yesterday thanks to the Bulimba Festival yesterday. At Teneriffe, there was only space for 12 more people on board!

[ozbob]

The free travel is proving popular with not only tourists but commuters as well.

Some tourist operators have been a bit put out by the move, as they consider it might detract from their commercial activities ..

[#Metro]

Lots of wonderful Safari services to choose from!

[SurfRail]

Just been looking up something work-related when I noticed this:

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_act/coba2010155/s91.html

---

CITY OF BRISBANE ACT 2010 - SECT 91
91 Ferry services
(1) The council has the exclusive right to provide a ferry service across a watercourse if the land that forms both banks of the watercourse is in Brisbane.

(2) A watercourse is a river, creek or channel where water flows naturally.

(3) The council may—

(a) lease the right to provide a ferry service across a watercourse that it has the exclusive right to provide a ferry service across; and
(b) make local laws for managing and regulating the use of ferries operated or leased by it.
(4) A regulation may—

(a) declare another watercourse that the council has the exclusive right to provide a ferry service across; and
(b) provide for any other matter connected with the provision of ferry services (including declaring the approaches to a ferry as being under the control of the council, for example).

---

One more thing to be amended to get BCC out of the planning picture...

[Fattious]

I was travelling on a first generation city cat today that had been upgraded. LED lighting throughout, hearing loop and wheelchair areas with rear facing seats that fold up. It still idles like a barge.

[Golliwog]

It still idles like a barge.

Gotta love the older engines.

[Set in train]

Time to Nighlink Inner City Cross River Services on Fri and Sat Nights!

That's a very reasonable suggestion.  I'd think making the Holman-Eagle-Thornton ferry and the Bulimba-Teneriffe ferry run after hours on Friday/Saturday would be feasible.

Time for the long term plan of two footbridges on the 'Town Reach' across to Kangaroo Point and one footbridge then across to New Farm to be budgeted for in future years. Advance the concept from the 'would be nice plans' to a strategic plan with a date set.

I agree also with the idea of an after hours Bulimba-Teneriffe ferry. This would connect with the City Glider which should have same hours to match the service.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Brisbane City ‏@brisbanecityqld

The Lord Mayor has just launched the resumption of CityCat services, riding the Spirit of Brisbane up the #BNE River. http://instagram.com/p/VK_7Rwk4cl/

[HappyTrainGuy]

Might be cancelled tomorrow with this cell coming

[ozbob]

Twitter

Brisbane City ‏@brisbanecityqld

The North Quay ferry terminal has reopened - and what a beautiful day to be out on the water! More details http://bne.cc/ADFnq

[Set in train]

From:

http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/details/1359245614

Ferry services resumed

Last updated: 2.47pm Tuesday 5 February 2013

Ferry services have returned to normal schedule, including nightime services.

There may still be some minor unavoidable delays due to debris in the river, particularly during hours of darkness.

Staff are very glad for the go ahead, return to normal shifts most welcomed.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> New Milton CityCat terminal to get European influence

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland disputes Federal Government's right to collect boat registration fees

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson

Commercial boaties face extra costs under Gillard

The Newman Government has thrown its support behind thousands of commercial vessel operators facing skyrocketing costs if the Gillard Government pushes through its Commercial Vessel reform.

Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the Federal Government's lacklustre approach to boating reform could see Queensland commercial licenses triple in cost.

"From July 1, commercial vessel operators will need to pay license fees to the Federal Government," Mr Emerson said.

"The Queensland Government currently collects about 35 per cent of costs to deliver commercial vessel licensing.

"If the Federal Government increases license fees to match those in other states we would see fees in Queensland skyrocket.

"A skipper grade 3 now pays $210 for an annual license in Queensland, compared to more than $600 in three other states."

The former Labor government signed Queensland up to the Intergovernmental Agreement on Commercial Vessel Safety Reform in August 2011.

Mr Emerson said the agreement would bring all Australian jurisdictions under the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the national safety regulator for commercial vessels.

"The Gillard Government wants to take $3 million collected through licensing and registration of commercial vehicles but I'm yet to see any evidence the Federal Government has any ability to keep costs down," he said.

"That is unacceptable, which is why we will wait to see more detail before endorsing the reforms."

There are 9,800 existing registrations, operator licensing and other certificates in Queensland that would need to be converted and about 1,100 existing commercial licences to transition

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Delay in ferries meeting standards for disabled

[ozbob]

Feedback received, thanks ..

The addition of Teneriffe jetty to the citycat route was welcome. Unfortunately the route suggests that the approval process appears to have been based on a street directory assessment not on the position of a shoal in the river. Ferries travelling upstream travel Bretts Wharf - Bulimba - Teneriffe - Hawthorne the ferries travel most of a figure 8 to accomplish this. The direct route is Bretts Wharf - Teneriffe - Bulimba - Hawthorne. The reverse applies on travel downstream.This simple change would result in a savings of a couple of minutes on each trip, and a corresponding minor reduction in fuel use. A small savings for each trip, but adds up to a large savings on such a frequent service.

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane Breakfast with Spencer Howson

Solar-powered City Cats and cross-river ferries being considered

Brisbane City Council has been discussing the possibility that one day, City Cats could be competely solar-powered.

Currently there are three different models in operation, each fitted with a 10.8 litre disel engine. Progressively, they've become more efficient thanks to propeller design so that the third generation vessels (introduced a couple of years ago) use 11.2 tonnes less greenhouse emissions per year than the previous model.

But Council's Transport Committee has been asking the question - could future CityCats be solar/disel hybrid, or solar and wind, or completely solar designs?

Shortly to Transport committee Chair Cr Peter Matic. But first, Robert Dane is CEO of Solar Sailor Holdings and he's very interested in talk of solar ferries on the Brisbane River:

Click --> here!

[Set in train]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson

Commercial boaties face extra costs under Gillard
Mr Emerson said the agreement would bring all Australian jurisdictions under the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the national safety regulator for commercial vessels.

"The Gillard Government wants to take $3 million collected through licensing and registration of commercial vehicles but I'm yet to see any evidence the Federal Government has any ability to keep costs down," he said.

"That is unacceptable, which is why we will wait to see more detail before endorsing the reforms."

Great, great, so Minister Emerson says it is unacceptable, that Bligh signed them up to a national agreement. So what is his govt doing to undo this and to keep costs low? Anything beyond a whinging media release? Action is required, more action than handing your bus review to BCC 

[ozbob]

Just saw a  tweet from mX Brisbane re old CityCats being cut to save money  .. there will be something in todays mX ...

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[SurfRail]

I suggest this thread be renamed "On the Ferries" seeing that this is about to happen:

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/network-information/southern-moreton-bay-island

[techblitz]

I suggest this thread be renamed "On the Ferries" seeing that this is about to happen:

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/network-information/southern-moreton-bay-island

Cheeky..... they put in a clause to block the brisbanites hoping for free travel after nine.

[SurfRail]

I suggest this thread be renamed "On the Ferries" seeing that this is about to happen:

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/network-information/southern-moreton-bay-island

Cheeky..... they put in a clause to block the brisbanites hoping for free travel after nine.

No, I don't think so - what it says is that if you are only going from one island to another, you do not pay anything and you do not need to touch on or off.  In that sense it means it doesn't count for the nine-then-free in the same way a trip on the CityHopper or the Spring Hill Loop also doesn't count.

As far as I am aware, if I wanted to go to Russell Island on my free travel on a weekend, I could without paying anything.

[longboi]

I suggest this thread be renamed "On the Ferries" seeing that this is about to happen:

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/network-information/southern-moreton-bay-island

Cheeky..... they put in a clause to block the brisbanites hoping for free travel after nine.

No, I don't think so - what it says is that if you are only going from one island to another, you do not pay anything and you do not need to touch on or off.  In that sense it means it doesn't count for the nine-then-free in the same way a trip on the CityHopper or the Spring Hill Loop also doesn't count.

As far as I am aware, if I wanted to go to Russell Island on my free travel on a weekend, I could without paying anything.

Yep. Got it in one.

If you hadn't made your 9 journeys, you would be paying the fare from Redland Bay Marina to the Islands.

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Momentum builds for plan to bring back the barge from Scarborough to Moreton Island

[SurfRail]

Does anybody know what is happening (if anything) with the Coochiemudlo ferry?