Operator of ferries in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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[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River-class ferries were commissioned in 2021.[12] 3 Emerald Class Ferries entered service in 2021 however were briefly withdrawn in 2022 due to multiple steering failures. Two of seven new Parramatta River-class ferries have been introduced with the rest expected to enter service in 2024/2025.[13]
^Steady as he goes: ferries sail into private hands Archived 31 October 2012 at the Wayback MachineSydney Morning Herald 28 July 2012
^ a bTRANSDEV 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
^Sydney Ferries FleetArchived 2018-01-19 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 18 December 2017
^More ferry services for Sydney after government awards $1.3b contract Archived 10 March 2019 at the Wayback MachineSydney Morning Herald 27 February 2019
^"Transdev secures €815 million Sydney Ferries renewal contract until 2028". Transdev. 7 March 2019. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
^"Home Page". Transdev Sydney Ferries. Archived from the original on 19 June 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
^Anger as Syd ferries to be built overseas Archived 27 March 2023 at the Wayback MachineCanberra Times 23 October 2019
^ a bMinister 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.
^Sydney Ferries Fleet Facts Archived 12 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 15 April 2014
^"Catherine Hamlin in Hobart – 35m Passenger Catamaran". Incat. Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
^Incat ferries bound for Denmark & Sydney Harbour The Mercury 21 April 2017
^Victor Chang Archived 13 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine Marine Traffic
^NSW, Transport for (30 August 2017). "Pemulwuy arrives in Sydney Harbour". www.transport.nsw.gov.au. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
^Raper, Asleigh (31 January 2018). "Ferry McFerryface gets renamed to May Gibbs". ABC News. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
^Ferry McFerryface wasn't public pick for new ferry name until Andrew Constance's captain's pick Archived 26 July 2021 at the Wayback MachineDaily Telegraph 30 January 2018
^ a b cNSW, Transport for (3 February 2021). "New ferries to be named after popular harbour beaches". www.transport.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
^Investment, NSW Trade and (22 May 2014). "Top gong for engineer who oversaw construction of Sydney icon, revolutionised industry". Chief Scientist. Retrieved 18 July 2024.