Port Phillip Ferries
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transport |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Founder | Paul Little |
| Headquarters | , Australia |
Area served | Port Phillip |
Key people | Murray Rance (CEO) |
| Services | Ferry services |
| Parent | Little Group |
| Website | www.portphillipferries.com.au |
Port Phillip Ferries is an Australian ferry company that operates on Port Phillip, providing fast ferry services connecting Geelong and Portarlington to Melbourne Docklands.
Ferries had a long tradition of operating throughout Port Phillip, but the last ferries were requisitioned for defence purposes during World War II and the service did not resume after the war ended. By that time roads had improved and buses had advanced to the level where they were faster and more comfortable than ferries. However, with the invention of fast catamaran ferries from 1990, passenger sea transport became more competitive and subsequent innovations in the next two decades led to a much smoother ride. In 2016 the only ferries operating on the bay were short distance tourist shuttles to Williamtown and St Kilda and the Searoad Ferries connection across the Port Phillip heads between Sorrento and Queenscliff.[citation needed]
Port Phillip Ferries aimed to restore longer distance scheduled ferry services on Port Phillip. Journey times were initially slowed by the low speed limit in the lower Yarra River, but a slight increase has improved the situation. The company is owned by Little Group, which is controlled by Paul Little.[1]
