Transdev Sydney Ferries

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]

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, 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ferries were commissioned in 2021.^[12] 3 Emerald Class Ferries entered service in 2021 however were briefly withdrawn in 2022 due to multiple steering failures.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]

Fleet

Former fleet

References

1. ^ Annual Report 30 June 2012 Archived 13 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Ferries
2. ^ "Transfield JV wins Sydney Ferries contract". news.com.au. 3 May 2012. Archived 7 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
3. ^ Harbour City Ferries Archived 5 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW
4. ^ "Harbour City Ferries". Harbour City Ferries. 2013. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
5. ^ Private Operator to take control of ferry services Archived 4 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Morning Herald 3 May 2012
6. ^ Steady as he goes: ferries sail into private hands Archived 31 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Morning Herald 28 July 2012
7. ^ TRANSDEV AUSTRALASIA ACQUIRES 100% OF HARBOUR CITY FERRIES Archived 23 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Transdev Australasia, Published 8 December 2016, Retrieved 19 January 2018
8. ^ Sydney Ferries FleetArchived 2018-01-19 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 18 December 2017
9. ^ More ferry services for Sydney after government awards $1.3b contract Archived 10 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Morning Herald 27 February 2019
10. ^ "Transdev secures €815 million Sydney Ferries renewal contract until 2028". Transdev. 7 March 2019. Archived 29 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
11. ^ "Home Page". Transdev Sydney Ferries. Archived from the original on 19 June 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
12. ^ Anger as Syd ferries to be built overseas Archived 27 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine Canberra Times 23 October 2019
13. ^ Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads (5 March 2024). "New Parramatta River Class Ferry starts sea trials on the Derwent". NSW Government. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
14. ^ Sydney Ferries Fleet Facts Archived 12 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 15 April 2014
15. ^ "Catherine Hamlin in Hobart – 35m Passenger Catamaran". Incat. Archived 2 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
16. ^ Incat ferries bound for Denmark & Sydney Harbour The Mercury 21 April 2017
17. ^ Victor Chang Archived 13 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine Marine Traffic
18. ^ NSW, Transport for (2017-08-30). "Pemulwuy arrives in Sydney Harbour". www.transport.nsw.gov.au. Archived 4 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
19. ^ Raper, Asleigh (31 Jan 2018). "Ferry McFerryface gets renamed to May Gibbs". ABC News. Archived 3 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
20. ^ Ferry McFerryface wasn't public pick for new ferry name until Andrew Constance's captain's pick Archived 26 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine Daily Telegraph 30 January 2018
21. ^ "12m Catamaran Passenger Ferry". Incat Crowther. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
22. ^ "Blackwattle Bay". transportnsw.info. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
23. ^ NSW, Transport for (2021-02-03). "New ferries to be named after popular harbour beaches". www.transport.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
24. ^ Investment, NSW Trade and (2014-05-22). "Top gong for engineer who oversaw construction of Sydney icon, revolutionised industry". Chief Scientist. Retrieved 2024-07-18.