Transdev Sydney Ferries
Operator of ferries in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Transdev Sydney Ferries, formerly Harbour City Ferries, is a subsidiary of Transdev Australasia, and is the operator of ferry services in the Sydney Ferries network since July 2012. It currently operates the ferry network under a contract until June 2028. As part of the operation contract, Transdev Sydney Ferries leases both the Balmain Maintenance Facility and the fleet from the government agency Sydney Ferries.[1]
| Industry | Ferries |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Sydney Ferries |
| Founded | 28 July 2012 |
| Headquarters | , Australia |
Area served | Port Jackson Parramatta River |
| Services | Ferry operator |
| Parent | Transdev Australasia |
| Website | www.beyondthewharf.com.au/ |

History
In 2011, the NSW government decided to contract out ferry services to the private sector. Harbour City Ferries was formed as a 50/50 joint venture between Transfield Services (later Broadspectrum) and Veolia Transdev (later Transdev). In May 2012, Harbour City Ferries was announced as the successful tenderer to operate the services on a seven-year contract starting 28 July 2012.[2][3][4][5][6]
In December 2016, Harbour City Ferries became fully owned by Transdev Australasia after Transdev bought out Broadspectrum's 50% shareholding.[7] As of December 2016[update], Harbour City Ferries employs more than 650 people and its fleet consisted of 32 vessels.[7] The government acquired six more ferries in 2017 that were added to the Harbour City Ferries fleet.[8]
In July 2019, Harbour City Ferries commenced a new contract to operate the ferries until June 2028.[9] To coincide with the contract, Harbour City Ferries was rebranded Transdev Sydney Ferries.[10] Its website was updated prematurely in June 2019 to reflect the name change.[11] Ten new River-class ferries were commissioned in 2021.[12] 3 Emerald Class Ferries entered service in 2021 however were briefly withdrawn in 2022 due to multiple steering failures. Six of seven new Parramatta River-class ferries have been introduced with the rest expected to enter service in 2025.[13]
Ferry classes
- Freshwater-class ferry since 1982 (Freshwater)
- First Fleet-class, since 1984 (Scarborough)
- Emerald-class ferry, since 2017.
(Bungaree) - River-class, since 2021.
(Ruth Park) - Parramatta River-class, since 2024.
(Frances Bodkin)
Fleet
| Vessel | Class | Service | Capacity | Speed | Length | Displacement | Routes | Origin of name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater | Freshwater | 1982 | 1100 | 15 kn | 70.4 m | 1150 t | Manly | Freshwater Beach |
| Queenscliff | Freshwater | 1983 | 1150 | 15 kn | 70.4 m | 1140 t | Manly | Queenscliff Beach |
| Narrabeen | Freshwater | 1984 | 1100 | 15kn | 70.4m | 1150 t | Manly | Narrabeen Beach |
| Alexander | First Fleet | 1985 | 393 | 12 kn | 25.38 m | 105 t | Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island | Alexander, part of the 1787 First Fleet |
| Borrowdale | First Fleet | 1985 | 393 | 12 kn | 25.38 m | 105 t | Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island
Double Bay |
Borrowdale, part of the 1787 First Fleet |
| Charlotte | First Fleet | 1985 | 393 | 12 kn | 25.38 m | 105 t | Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island
Double Bay |
Charlotte, part of the 1787 First Fleet |
| Fishburn | First Fleet | 1985 | 403 | 12 kn | 25.38 m | 105 t | Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island
Double Bay |
Fishburn, part of the 1787 First Fleet |
| Friendship | First Fleet | 1986 | 403 | 12 kn | 25.38 m | 105 t | Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island
Double Bay |
Friendship, part of the 1787 First Fleet |
| Golden Grove | First Fleet | 1986 | 403 | 12 kn | 25.38 m | 105 t | Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island
Double Bay |
Golden Grove, part of the 1787 First Fleet |
| Scarborough | First Fleet | 1986 | 403 | 12 kn | 25.38 m | 105 t | Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island
Double Bay |
Scarborough, part of the 1787 First Fleet |
| Sirius | First Fleet | 1984 | 393 | 12 kn | 25.38 m | 105 t | Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island
Double Bay |
HMS Sirius, flagship of the 1787 First Fleet |
| Supply | First Fleet | 1984 | 393 | 12 kn | 25.38 m | 105 t | Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Cockatoo Island
Double Bay |
HMS Supply, part of the 1787 First Fleet |
| Catherine Hamlin[15] | Emerald | 2017 | 400 | 26 kn | 36.38 m | 40 t | Eastern Suburbs, Inner Harbour | Catherine Hamlin, obstetrician and gynaecologist |
| Fred Hollows | Emerald | 2017 | 400 | 26 kn | 36.38 m | 40 t | Eastern Suburbs, Inner Harbour | Fred Hollows, ophthalmologist[16] |
| Victor Chang | Emerald | 2017 | 400 | 26 kn | 36.38 m | 40 t | Eastern Suburbs, Inner Harbour | Victor Chang, cardiac surgeon[17] |
| Pemulwuy | Emerald | 2017 | 400 | 26 kn | 36.38 m | 40 t | Eastern Suburbs, Inner Harbour | Pemulwuy, Aboriginal political leader and elder[18] |
| Bungaree | Emerald | 2017 | 400 | 26 kn | 36.38 m | 40 t | Eastern Suburbs, Inner Harbour | Bungaree, Aboriginal explorer and leader |
| May Gibbs[19] | Emerald | 2017 | 400 | 26 kn | 36.38 m | 40 t | Eastern Suburbs, Inner Harbour | May Gibbs[20] |
| Fairlight | Emerald | 2021 | 400 | 26 kn | 36.38 m | 40 t | Manly | Sydney beach[21] |
| Balmoral | Emerald | 2021 | 400 | 26 kn | 36.38 m | 40 t | Manly | Sydney beach[21] |
| Clontarf | Emerald | 2021 | 400 | 26 kn | 36.38 m | 40 t | Manly | Sydney beach[21] |
| Ruby Langford Ginibi | River | 2021 | 200 | 25 m | Inner Harbour, Parramatta River | Ruby Langford Ginibi | ||
| Esme Timbery | River | 2021 | 200 | 25 m | Inner Harbour, Parramatta River | Esme Timbery | ||
| Margaret Olley | River | 2021 | 200 | 25 m | Inner Harbour, Parramatta River | Margaret Olley | ||
| Olive Cotton | River | 2021 | 200 | 25 m | Inner Harbour, Parramatta River | Olive Cotton | ||
| Ruth Park | River | 2021 | 200 | 25 m | Inner Harbour, Parramatta River | Ruth Park | ||
| Ethel Turner | River | 2021 | 200 | 25 m | Inner Harbour, Parramatta River | Ethel Turner | ||
| Cheryl Salisbury | River | 2021 | 200 | 25 m | Inner Harbour, Parramatta River | Cheryl Salisbury | ||
| Liz Ellis | River | 2021 | 200 | 25 m | Inner Harbour, Parramatta River | Liz Ellis | ||
| Lauren Jackson | River | 2021 | 200 | 25 m | Inner Harbour, Parramatta River | Lauren Jackson | ||
| Kurt Fearnley | River | 2021 | 200 | 25 m | Inner Harbour, Parramatta River | Kurt Fearnley | ||
| Frances Bodkin | Parramatta River | 2024 | 200 | 24 m | Parramatta River | Frances Bodkin[13] | ||
| John Nutt | Parramatta River | 2024 | 200 | 24 m | Parramatta River | John Nutt[22] | ||
| Isobel Bennett | Parramatta River | 2024 | 200 | 24m | Parramatta River | Isobel Bennett | ||
| Martin Green | Parramatta River | 2025 | 200 | 24m | Parramatta River | Martin Green (professor) | ||
| Ruby Payne Scott | Parramatta River | 2025 | 200 | 24m | Parramatta River | Ruby Payne-Scott | ||
| Norman Selfe | Parramatta River | 2025 | 200 | 24m | Parramatta River | Norman Selfe |
Former fleet
| Vessel | Class | Entered service | Retired from service | Capacity | Length | Displacement | Routes | Origin of name | Current status of vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lady Herron | Lady | 1979 | October 2017 | 550 | 38.71 m | 287t | Inner Harbour, Taronga Zoo | Leslie Herron Chief justice | Scrapped |
| Lady Northcott | Lady | 1974 | October 2017 | 800 | 42.5 m | 383t | Inner Harbour
Taronga Zoo Double Bay |
John Northcott Army General | Donated to the Aboriginal cruise company Tribal Warrior in 2021 and was converted to a cruise vessel. |
| Saint Mary Mackilop | SuperCat | 2000 | December 2021 | 250 | 37.76 m | 49 t | Eastern Suburbs | Mary MacKillop Australia's first saint, canonised in 2010 | Sold and renamed Hygeia IV |
| Anne Sargeant | Harbourcat | 1998 | 28 July 2022 | 150 | 29.6 m | 35 t | Parramatta River | Anne sargeant netballer | Sold, currently stored in Brisbane. |
| Susie O'Neill | Supercat | 2000 | 31 August 2022 | 250 | 37.76 m | 49 t | Eastern Suburbs | Susie O'Neill swimmer | Sold to ZigZag Whitsundays in 2024 and renamed "Super Flyer" |
| Betty Cuthbert | RiverCat | 1992 | 17 February 2023 | 230 | 36.8 m | 41 t | Parramatta River | Betty Cuthbert athlete | Scrapped |
| Pam Burridge | Harbourcat | 1998 | 26 July 2023 | 150 | 29.6 m | 35 t | Parramatta River | Pam Burridge surfer | Sold and renamed "Sea Wasp |
| Collaroy | Freshwater | 1988 | 27 September 2023 | 1150 | 70.4 m | 1140 t | Manly | Collaroy Beach | stored at Cockatoo Island |
| Louise Sauvage | Supercat | 2001 | 22 March 2024 | 250 | 37.76 m | 49 t | Eastern Suburbs | Louise Sauvage paralympian | Renamed “Louis” and sold to Coral Sea Cruises, Whitsundays. |
| Supercat 4 | Supercat | 2001 | 28 April 2024 | 250 | 37.76 m | 49 t | Eastern Suburbs | Fourth Supercat ferry | Renamed to "Percat" and sold to Suncity Ferry Services Fiji. |
| Evonne Goolagong | Rivercat | 1993 | 7 June 2024 | 230 | 36.8 m | 41 t | Parramatta River | Evonne Goolagong
tennis player |
Scrapped |
| Nicole Livingstone | Rivercat | 1995 | 28 October 2024 | 230 | 36.8 m | 41 t | Parramatta River | Nicole Livingstone
Swimmer |
Scrapped |
| Marlene Mathews | Rivercat | 1993 | 4 February 2025 | 230 | 36.8 m | 41 t | Parramatta River | Marlene Mathews
athlete |
Scrapped |
| Marjorie Jackson | Rivercat | 1993 | 3 June 2025 | 230 | 36.8 m | 41 t | Parramatta River | Marjorie Jackson
Athlete |
Scrapped |
| Shane Gould | Rivercat | 1993 | 30 September 2025 | 230 | 36.8 m | 41 t | Parramatta River | Shane Gould
swimmer |
Scrapped |
| Dawn Fraser | Rivercat | 1992 | 9 March 2026 | 230 | 36.8 m | 41 t | Parramatta River | Dawn Fraser
Swimmer |
Retired |