The New South Wales government is ordering six new ferries that will be some of the fastest in the fleet and have a similar look to the First Fleet vessels already in use in Sydney Harbour.
The concept design and specifications outlined in the tender were developed using feedback from customers, and expertise from the shipbuilding and maritime industries.
Tenders for the new inner harbour vessels opened on November 28, and will close in February 2015. Detailed design and construction of the new ferries will begin next year, with the first vessel to be on the water in 2016.
“The NSW Government is delivering new ferries as part of Sydney’s Ferry Future, our 20-year plan to modernise and expand Sydney’s ferry network,” the NSW Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian said. “Each ferry will carry up to 400 passengers and some of the great new features include large outdoor viewing areas, around 90 more seats than the current First Fleet vessel, two wide walk-around decks, wi-fi access and real time journey information.”
The ferries will service all inner harbour routes, from Watsons Bay in the east to Cockatoo Island in the west, and will use new wharves such as Barangaroo which is expected to be completed in 2016. They will also be used to replace some older vessels in the fleet.
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