Cockatoo Island ferry service

{{Short description|Commuter ferry service in Sydney, Australia}}

{{Infobox water transit

|name = Cockatoo Island

|logo = TfNSW F8 2017.svg

|logo_size = 60

|image = MV Friendship docked at Cockatoo Island.jpg

|image_size = 300

|image_caption = Friendship at Cockatoo Island in August 2017

|locale =

|waterway = Sydney Harbour, Parramatta River

|transit_type =

|began_operation =

|ended_operation =

|system_length =

|operator = Transdev Sydney Ferries

|owner = Transport for NSW

|website = [https://transportnsw.info/documents/timetables/93-F8-Cockatoo-Island-20220422.pdf Transport for NSW]

|map_name = Sydney Ferries services

|map = {{TFNSW nav|F}}

|map_state = collapsed}}

The Cockatoo Island ferry service, officially known as F8 Cockatoo Island, is a commuter ferry service in Sydney, Australia. Part of the Sydney Ferries network, it is operated by Transdev Sydney Ferries and services the Balmain, Greenwich, Woolwich and Cockatoo Island areas of Sydney Harbour.

History

Prior to 2007, Sydney Ferries and its predecessors operated a ferry service from Circular Quay to Woolwich calling at Balmain East, Balmain, Birchgrove and Greenwich Point with limited services calling at Milsons Point and McMahons Point.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140128003716/http://manlymania.net/Ferry/pdf/sydney-ferries-annual-report-200405.pdf Annual Report for year ended 30 June 2005] Sydney Ferries[https://web.archive.org/web/20070829124609/http://www.sydneyferries.info/uploads/file/docs/timetables/WoolwichFTT.pdf Woolwich timetable] Sydney Ferries 20 September 2006[https://web.archive.org/web/20070829125218/http://www.sydneyferries.info/uploads/file/docs/timetables/network-map.pdf Network Map] Sydney Ferries August 2007 Cockatoo Island had been served by direct ferries to and from Circular Quay at shift changeover time at Cockatoo Island Dockyard until the latter closed in 1992.

In April 2007, Sydney Ferries began operating limited services to Cockatoo Island after the island reopened for tourists.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140621231959/http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/b2b/ferry/sydney-ferries-annual-report-200607.pdf Annual Report for year ended 30 June 2007] Sydney Ferries Services from Circular Quay served Cockatoo Island after leaving Greenwich Point and then proceeded to Woolwich where they terminated.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090824094635/http://www.sydneyferries.info/uploads/SFC_8638_Balmain_WEB.pdf Balmain / Woolwich timetable] Sydney Ferries December 2008 By December 2010, the calling pattern had been altered with ferries from Greenwich Point proceeding to Woolwich and then to Cockatoo Island to terminate.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110224051956/http://www.sydneyferries.info/uploads/library/timetables/WoolwichBalmain181210.pdf Woolwich / Balmain timetable] Sydney Ferries 18 December 2010

When Sydney Ferries introduced route codes in October 2013, the Cockatoo island services were grouped with the Parramatta River ferry services as the F3.[https://web.archive.org/web/20170508024408/http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/ferries-ahoy-as-minister-pushes-the-boat-out-20130521-2jz13.html Ferries ahoy as minister pushes the boat out] Sydney Morning Herald 22 May 2013[https://archive.today/20170508024343/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/inner-west/anger-over-ferry-wharf-closure/news-story/0de15448b6cdc8a32a05905612842962 Anger over ferry wharf closure] The Daily Telegraph 8 August 2013 On 26 November 2017, the Cockatoo Island service was separated from the Parramatta River service and numbered F8.[https://web.archive.org/web/20171015065702/https://transportnsw.info/moving-forward/ferry Timetable changes - We're moving forward] Transport for NSW 15 October 2017[http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/sydney-commuters-to-benefit-from-thousands-of-new-public-transport-services-from-november-20171015-gz16iv.html Sydney commuters to benefit from new public transport services from November] Sydney Morning Herald 15 October 2017

The service is usually operated by First Fleet-class ferries.