The next generation of Sydney’s iconic Freshwater ferries will be locally-made as the Government develops an eight-year pipeline to maintain and upgrade its ferry fleet.
Transport for NSW has begun market sounding to gather proposals for the next generation Freshwater Class vessels, and how that fleet can incorporate zero-emissions technology. Transport are working with a number of locally based businesses for further development.
The next-generation Freshwaters will pay homage to their iconic forebears and will be designed and built locally. The new vessels will need to replicate the existing Freshwater’s performance in big swells and will utilise dual-level boarding to quickly load and unload big summer crowds.
The length of the new ferries will be subject to ongoing discussions and detailed design. The Freshwaters rely solely on available slots at the Australian Navy’s Captain Cook Graving Dock for major maintenance, smaller vessels are able to utilise alternative dry-docks like the NSW Government-owned Balmain Shipyard.
The NSW Government has also set a requirement that the new ferries be zero-emission, continuing the evolution of ferries on the Manly run. From paddle steamers in the 1850s, to diesel in the 1980s and soon, zero-emission electric propulsion.
The NSW Government will be able to outline an anticipated timeline for the vessels entering service on the harbour at the conclusion of the market sounding process.
This is a marked difference to the previous Government’s approach where three overseas-made vessels were purchased for the Manly run, but couldn’t handle the swell and struggle to maintain the required capacity needed on the popular route.
The Government’s commitment to extend the service life of the Freshwater class with a $71m investment will be continued with the return of the Narrabeen, expected back on the F1 route after a period of dry-docking at Garden Island in early 2025.
Two Freshwater class vessels are currently serving the F1 Manly Ferry route, with Queenscliff’s survey remaining current until November 2027, and Freshwater due to have its survey renewed in mid-2025, allowing it to operate until July 2030.
However, it’s become clear that maintaining MV Collaroy, which was removed from active service on the F1 route last September, for passenger service has become prohibitively expensive. This is due to the Collaroy’s one-of-a-kind build, which made the Collaroy the first and only ferry capable of sailing the open ocean.
Despite looking almost identical from the outside, the Collaroy’s internal and technical design – from the wheelhouse control system to the gearbox and propellors – is significantly different to the other three Freshwater Class vessels, which are virtually identical and use interchangeable parts.
This difference in design requires a different maintenance process for the Collaroy, as well as additional bespoke parts to be fabricated and an entirely separate store of spare parts kept for one vessel.
Transport will open an EOI process next month, so the Northern Beaches community and other maritime stakeholders can put forward proposals for utilising this historic vessel for years to come.
Commuters across the Harbour set to benefit from pipeline of new vessels.
The NSW Government is planning the phased replacement of all diesel-powered craft with modern vessels powered by green energy alternatives by 2035. The new vessels will be built locally, supporting the NSW Government’s commitment to local procurement.
The nine First Fleet vessels, which entered service in the mid-1980s, are set to retire by the end of the decade. Designs for their replacements are due to commence this year, in tandem with the development of charging infrastructure and necessary modifications to shipyards to accommodate electric vessels.
Transport is also preparing a business case to commission an eighth, electric-powered Parramatta River Class vessel that could be ready for trials by early 2026. This eighth vessel would be Sydney Ferries’ first electric vessel and would provide the road map for the introduction of new electric ferries across the harbour.
Sydney’s new fleet of seven Parramatta River Class ferries are currently mid-way through construction in Tasmania and have been built to support conversion to electric propulsion when shore-side charging infrastructure can be put in place.
Transport Minister Jo Haylen:
“Sydney’s iconic double-ended Manly vessels started as steam ships, became the diesel ferries we know and love today, and will soon evolve into modern electric vessels.”
“While we’ve extended the life of our Freshwater vessels, it’s important that we continue to plan for our future fleet. Manly needs high-capacity, reliable vessels that can load and unload hundreds of commuters and tourists within minutes of a ferry pulling into Manly or the Quay.
“What we found with the overseas built Emerald IIs was that they weren’t built for the conditions, and people were left on wharves in the summer months because the single gangway couldn’t load these ferries fast enough.
“These new ferries will continue the important legacy of the Freshwaters, provide the capacity the community needs and combine it with new zero-emission propulsion to deliver a next generation ferry that’ll be fit for our harbour for years to come.”
Councillor Candy Bingham, Save the Manly Ferry Committee:
“For years, I’ve said we need a long term plan for ferries on the Manly run, and I’m so pleased the Government has listened.
“We’ve called for any Freshwater replacement to be a fully electric ‘look alike’ to the Freshwater Manly Ferries, and I hope this market sounding process delivers us exactly that.
“A ferry that is just a little bit smaller won’t have to go into the Navy’s dry dock to be certified every 5 years. This will keep ferries in service on the Manly run, instead of being tied up at Balmain or Cockatoo Island waiting for maintenance.
“The Manly Ferry has always been iconic to Sydney. This next generation zero-emissions look-alike ferry will continue that history.”