River-class ferry

The River Class is a ferry type operated by Transdev Sydney Ferries on Sydney Harbour.

River Class
Esme Timbery undergoing testing in February 2021
Class overview
OperatorsTransdev Sydney Ferries
Preceded byRiverCats
Built2020
In service2021
Planned10
General characteristics
TypeCatamaran
Length25 metres
Beam7 metres
Decks2
Capacity200
Crew3

History
Ruby Langford Ginibi in operation near Barangaroo
Interior passenger saloon of Kurt Fearnley

In September 2017, Transport for NSW called for expressions of interest for four new ferries for Parramatta River ferry services.[1] However, after the bids were higher than expected, the project was shelved.[2]

Upon being awarded the contract to operate the Sydney Ferries concession in 2019, Transdev Sydney Ferries placed an order for 10 new ferries to be built in Indonesia.[3]

The first four arrived in Newcastle in August 2020 for final works and trials. The ferries were purchased to replace the River Cat-class ferries.[4][5] All were named after artists, athletes and authors.[6]

The first entered service in October 2021, confined to daytime service until deemed suitable for night time operations.[7]

Delays

Identified defects on the ferries include asbestos, sub-standard fit and finish, wheelhouse window angles making night operations dangerous, engine stalling, potential of fires or electrocution caused by sub standard electrical equipment/cabling and sub-standard steering components. Rectifying these issues have pushed the in service date out by over a year.[8]

Vessels
NameCall signMMSIShipyard
number		Keel laidNamesake
Ruth Park457593503106750H38929 February 2020Ruth Park
Cheryl Salisbury503106690H39023 March 2020Cheryl Salisbury
Kurt Fearnley457594503106720H39323 March 2020Kurt Fearnley
Olive Cotton503100450Olive Cotton
Esme Timbery503100460Esme Timbery
Margaret Olley 503100470Margaret Olley
Ruby Langford Ginibi503100480Ruby Langford Ginibi
Ethel Turner457589503106710Ethel Turner
Lauren Jackson503106730Lauren Jackson
Liz Ellis457600503106740Liz Ellis

References
  1. New ferries for the Parramatta River Transport for NSW 26 September 2017
  2. Purchase of new ferries for Sydney's busy Parramatta River shelved Sydney Morning Herald 1 January 2019
  3. McCubbing, Gus (2019-10-23). "Anger as Syd ferries to be built overseas". Canberra Times. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  4. Asbestos found on new Sydney ferry vessels Nine News 21 August 2020
  5. Rabe, Tom (2020-08-23). "'Duck!': The problem with Sydney's new ferries". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  6. Artists, authors and athletes celebrated on new River Class ferries Transport for NSW 2 October 2020
  7. First River Class ferry now in service Transport for NSW 13 October 2021
  8. Rabe, Tom (2021-05-26). "'Cheap knock-offs': More delays for new, problem-plagued Sydney ferries". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2022-03-13.

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