river-class ferry
{{Short description|Model of ferry operating in Sydney, Australia}}
{{Distinguish|Parramatta River-class ferry|Sydney RiverCat}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
| infobox caption = River class }} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = File:20230910 Cheryl Salisbury leaving Circular Quay.jpg | Ship caption = Cheryl Salisbury in September 2023 }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Builders = Designers Incat Crowther | Operators = Transdev Sydney Ferries | Class before = RiverCats | Class after = | Built range = 2020 | In service range = 2021 | Total ships planned = 10 | Total ships active = | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = | Total ships scrapped = | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Catamaran | Ship tonnage = | Ship displacement = | Ship length = 25 metres | Ship beam = 7 metres | Ship height = | Ship draught = | Ship draft = | Ship depth = | Ship decks = 2 | Ship deck clearance = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = | Ship speed = | Ship capacity = 200 | Ship crew = 3 | Ship notes = }} |
The River class is a ferry type operated by Transdev Sydney Ferries on Sydney Harbour.
History
File:Kurt Fearnley ferry interior.jpg
In September 2017, Transport for NSW called for expressions of interest for four new ferries for Parramatta River ferry services.[https://web.archive.org/web/20171016201205/https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/newsroom-and-events/media-releases/new-ferries-for-parramatta-river New ferries for the Parramatta River] Transport for NSW 26 September 2017 However, after the bids were higher than expected, the project was shelved.[https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/purchase-of-new-ferries-for-sydney-s-busy-parramatta-river-shelved-20181221-p50nr3.html Purchase of new ferries for Sydney's busy Parramatta River shelved] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102094857/https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/purchase-of-new-ferries-for-sydney-s-busy-parramatta-river-shelved-20181221-p50nr3.html |date=2019-01-02 }} Sydney Morning Herald 1 January 2019
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.{{Cite web |last=McCubbing |first=Gus |date=2019-10-23 |title=Anger as Syd ferries to be built overseas |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6454953/anger-as-syd-ferries-to-be-built-overseas/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Canberra Times|language=en-AU}}
The first four arrived in Newcastle in August 2020 for final works and trials. The ferries were purchased to replace the SuperCat and HarbourCat-class Ferries.[https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-ferries-asbestos-found-new-boats-made-overseas/fb009706-217d-4bbe-b0fb-93ffe15aa4f7?fbclid=IwAR1OvABZv3xvsEneCCMtFRd3AurhA4rqV9whYzZaGuIfSy5ScCoMdfNsSXk Asbestos found on new Sydney ferry vessels] Nine News 21 August 2020{{Cite web |last=Rabe |first=Tom |date=2020-08-23 |title='Duck!': The problem with Sydney's new ferries |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/duck-the-problem-with-sydney-s-new-ferries-20200821-p55o61.html |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Sydney Morning Herald |language=en |archive-date=2022-02-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221053812/https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/duck-the-problem-with-sydney-s-new-ferries-20200821-p55o61.html |url-status=live }} All were named after artists, athletes and authors.[https://web.archive.org/web/20210126064245/https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/media-releases/artists-authors-and-athletes-celebrated-on-new-river-class-ferries Artists, authors and athletes celebrated on new River Class ferries] Transport for NSW 2 October 2020
The first entered service in October 2021, confined to daytime service until deemed suitable for night time operations.[https://web.archive.org/web/20211106090801/https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/media-releases/first-river-class-ferry-now-service First River Class ferry now in service] Transport for NSW 13 October 2021
In late 2022 the government announced it was looking for tenders to build a new fleet of Parramatta River-class ferries to replace the RiverCat-class ferries
Issues and delays
A number of issues and defects on the ferries, totalling 43, delayed the service commencement dates by well over a year.{{when|date=May 2024}}
Identified issues and delays on the ferries included the presence of 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 and sub-standard steering components.{{Cite web |last=Rabe |first=Tom |date=2021-05-26 |title='Cheap knock-offs': More delays for new, problem-plagued Sydney ferries |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/cheap-knock-offs-more-delays-for-new-problem-plagued-sydney-ferries-20210526-p57vf2.html |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Sydney Morning Herald |language=en |archive-date=2021-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201103126/https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/cheap-knock-offs-more-delays-for-new-problem-plagued-sydney-ferries-20210526-p57vf2.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite journal |last=Cabinet |first=Department of Premier and |date=2023-06-26 |title=Australian-made ferries to take to Parramatta River {{!}} NSW Government |url=https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/new-parramatta-river-ferries |language=en-AU}}
==Vessels==
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||||
| Name | Call sign | MMSI | Shipyard number | Keel laid | Namesake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethel Turner | 457589 | 503106710 | H388 | 25 February 2020 | Ethel Turner |
| Ruth Park | 457593 | 503106750 | H389 | 29 February 2020 | Ruth Park |
| Cheryl Salisbury | 457597 | 503106690 | H390 | 23 March 2020 | Cheryl Salisbury |
| Lauren Jackson | 458798 | 503106730 | H391 | 23 March 2020 | Lauren Jackson |
| Liz Ellis | 457600 | 503106740 | H392 | 23 March 2020 | Liz Ellis |
| Kurt Fearnley | 457594 | 503106720 | H393 | 23 March 2020 | Kurt Fearnley |
| Olive Cotton | 457555 | 503100450 | H395 | 25 August 2019 | Olive Cotton |
| Margaret Olley | 457590 | 503100470 | H396 | 25 August 2019 | Margaret Olley |
| Esme Timbery | 457595 | 503100460 | H397 | 25 August 2019 | Esme Timbery |
| Ruby Langford Ginibi | 457591 | 503100480 | H398 | 25 August 2019 | Ruby Langford Ginibi |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline|River ferry class}}
{{Sydneyferries|state=collapsed}}
{{Australianferries|state=collapsed}}