RiverCity Ferries is a public transport company which commenced operating ferry services in Brisbane on 4 November 2020. It is a subsidiary of the Kelsian Group.[1][2]
Industry | Public transport |
---|---|
Predecessor | Transdev Brisbane Ferries |
Founded | 4 November 2020 |
Headquarters | , Australia |
Area served | Brisbane River |
Products |
|
Services | Passenger ferry transport |
Parent | Kelsian Group |
Website | rivercityferries |
RiverCity Ferries operates 32 vessels serving 21 wharves on the Brisbane River under a ten-year contract (with an optional five-year extension) with the Brisbane City Council.[3][4] The company won the contract from the previous operator, Transdev Brisbane Ferries.[1]
Services
editCityCat
editCityCat services operate from UQ St Lucia to Northshore Hamilton calling at West End, Guyatt Park, Regatta, Milton, North Quay, South Bank, QUT Gardens Point, Riverside, Sydney Street, Mowbray Park, New Farm Park, Hawthorne, Bulimba, Teneriffe, Bretts Wharf and Apollo Road.[5] Not all CityCat services stop all stops, with some peak time express services operating.[6]
CityHopper
editCityHopper is an inner city service between North Quay and Sydney Street, stopping at South Bank, Maritime Museum, Riverside and Holman Street.[7]
Cross River
editCross River consists of cross-river services at two locations.[8]
- Bulimba – Teneriffe
- Holman Street – Riverside known as the Kangaroo Point Cross River Service.
Changes from 15 November 2020
edit- Some services which were suspended by Brisbane City Council on 20 July 2020, were either cancelled or reintroduced by RiverCity Ferries as follows:-
- The Norman Park Cross River service was cancelled permanently.
- Resumed services were:
- The Kangaroo Point Cross River service no longer stops at Thornton Street and Eagle Street, and instead operates from Holman Street to Riverside wharf only.
- Likewise the CityHopper service no longer stops at Dockside, Thornton Street and Eagle Street. Riverside Wharf can be used instead of Eagle Street.[9][10]
- The resumed services use the leased KittyCat catamarans.
Fleet
editRiverCity Ferries's fleet consists of 23 CityCats, five KittyCats and one CityFerry (out of service undergoing repair).[11] All except the KittyCats are owned by Brisbane City Council; the KittyCats are leased from Captain Cook Cruises.
CityCat ferries
editThe CityCat vessels are catamarans, and named after the Aboriginal place names for various parts of the Brisbane River and adjacent areas (with the exception of the 19th CityCat, the Spirit of Brisbane, which honours the 2011 flood recovery volunteers[12]). All CityCats are operated by a crew of three - a master, a deck hand and a ticket seller.[citation needed]
First generation
editFirst generation CityCats have a capacity of 149 passengers.[5] These are to be replaced by additional fourth generation vessels.[13]
Name | MMSI | Call sign | Builder | Launched | Withdrawn | Namesake | Reference | Wrap Theme | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kurilpa | 503575300 | 11930QE | Brisbane Ship Constructions | November 1996 | West End | [14] | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white | ||
Mirbarpa | 503575600 | 11930QE | Brisbane Ship Constructions | November 1996 | Indooroopilly | [14] | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white | ||
Barrambin | 503575500 | 12013QE | Brisbane Ship Constructions | November 1996 | 2021 | Breakfast Creek | [14] | Commemoration of 20 Years of CityCat services | |
Tugulawa | 503575400 | 12014QE | Brisbane Ship Constructions | November 1996 | Bulimba | [14] | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white | ||
Mianjin | 503575800 | 12132QE | Brisbane Ship Constructions | December 1996 | January 2021 | Gardens Point | [14] | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white | |
Binkinba | 503575700 | 12133QE | Brisbane Ship Constructions | December 1996 | New Farm | [14] | Brisbane Bullets basketball team | ||
Mooroolbin | 503575900 | 20481QE | Brisbane Ship Constructions | October 1998 | Hamilton Sandbank | [14] | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white | ||
Baneraba | 503576100 | 20854QE | Brisbane Ship Constructions | December 1998 | Toowong | [14] | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |
Second generation
editSecond generation CityCats have a capacity of 162 passengers.[5]
Name | MMSI | Call sign | Builder | Launched | Withdrawn | Namesake | Reference | Wrap Theme | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Beenung-urrung | 503576200 | 26483QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | August 2004 | 1 March 2022 Sunk during the 2022 eastern Australia floods[15] |
Highgate Hill | [16] | Brisbane Lions AFL team | |
Tunamun | 503576300 | 26579QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | June 2005 | Petrie Bight | [17] | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white | ||
Meeandah | 503576400 | 28744QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | February 2008 | Meeandah | [18] | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white | ||
Wilwinpa | 503576500 | 28744QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | June 2008 | Old Observatory[19] | [20] | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white | ||
Ya-wa-gara | 503576600 | 27885QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | November 2008 | Breakfast Creek | [21] | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white | ||
Mahreel | 503576700 | 27885QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | April 2009 | Spring Hill | [22] | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |
Third generation
editThird generation CityCats have a capacity of 162 passengers.[5]
Name | MMSI | Call sign | Builder | Launched | Namesake | Reference | Wrap Theme | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kuluwin | 503576800 | 29438QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | February 2010 | Wooloowin | [23] | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white | |
Gootcha | 503576900 | 29440QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | July 2010 | Toowong | [24] | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white | |
Walan | 503577100 | 29439QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | December 2010 | Herston | [4] | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white | |
Mudherri | 503577200 | 29437QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | July 2011 | Murarrie | [25] | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white | |
Spirit of Brisbane | 503586200 | 29436QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | October 2011 | [26] | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white | ||
Nar-dha | 503017210 | A3K0202 | Norman R Wright & Sons | November 2014 | Nudgee | [27] | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white | |
Gilwunpa | 503025670 | 32038QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | June 2015 | Nundah | [28] | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |
Fourth generation
editSeven fourth generation CityCats are being delivered from late 2019. They have a capacity of 170 passengers, including 20 on an open upper deck, plus more space for wheelchairs and bicycles than earlier generations. The vessels which each cost $3.7 million, are being constructed at Murarrie by Aus Ships Group.[29][30][31]
In December 2019, Brisbane City Council awarded Aus Ships Group a contract for an additional six fourth generation CityCats to replace the first generation vessels at a cost of $3.73 million each.[13]
Name | MMSI | Call sign | Builder | Launched | Namesake | Reference | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yoogera | 503092890 | 456106 | Aus Ships | October 2019 | Mouth of Breakfast Creek | [32][33] | |
Neville Bonner | 503102970 | 457882 | Aus Ships | August 2020 | Neville Bonner | [34][35] | |
Mianjin II | 503110450 | 458416 | Aus Ships | May 2021 | Gardens Point | [36] | |
Barrambin II | Aus Ships | Breakfast Creek | [37] | ||||
Mooroolbin II | 503131370 | 459861 | Aus Ships | May 2022 | Hamilton Sandbank | [38] | |
Kurilpa II | 503138850 | 459862 | Aus Ships | December 2022 | West End | [39] | |
Binkinba II | 503149810 | 461419 | Aus Ships | July 2023 | New Farm (Place of the land tortoise[40]) | [41] | |
Tuguluwa II | Aus Ships | April 2024 | Bulimba | [42] | |||
City Cat 30 | Aus Ships | 2025 (planned) | Temporary yard name |
KittyCats
editFive 12 m (39 ft) catamarans, nicknamed KittyCats, have been leased from RiverCity Ferries sister company Captain Cook Cruises in Sydney since November 2020 to operate the CityHopper and cross river services after the monohulled ferries were withdrawn. The first, MV Cockle Bay, arrived in Brisbane in September 2020,[43] to fill in for suspended cross-river ferries awaiting repairs. They have a capacity of 60 passengers (36 seated, 24 standing) and are operated by a crew of one. They are powered by 2 x 184 kW (247 hp) Cummins QSB engines with an economical normal service speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) and a maximum speed of 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph).
Residents have expressed concerns with the noise of the new vessels, since they came into service. In May 2021, Council ordered SeaLink to fit mufflers to the vessels to reduce noise concerns.
Name | MMSI | Call sign | Builder | Launched | Namesake | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cockle Bay | 503047610 | Richardson Devine Marine | 2017 | Cockle Bay | ||
Blackwattle Bay | 503047620 | Richardson Devine Marine | 2017 | Blackwattle Bay | ||
White Bay | 503076850 | 455645 | Harwood Marine | 2018 | White Bay | |
Pyrmont Bay | 503076860 | 455653 | Harwood Marine | 2018 | Pyrmont Bay | |
Albert (#455645) | 2020 | |||||
Eleanor (#452393) | 44544QE | 2020 | ||||
Melany (#455653) | 2020 | |||||
Victoria (#454604) | 2020 | |||||
Taylor (#444165) | 2020 |
Monohulled ferries
editWhen the CityFerry and CityHopper fleets were suspended from service due to deterioration of their wooden hulls, ferry Kalparrin with its steel monohull remained in service. Kalparrin is currently out of service, undergoing refurbishment and restoration. It's powered by a 86 kW (115 hp) Perkins engine, with a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) and is operated by a crew of one.[5]
Name | Call sign | Builder | Launched | Namesake | Passengers | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kalparrin | 9570QE | Queensland Port Services | 1993 | An Aboriginal word meaning "to help carry a load"[44] | 47 |
EVCat
editA prototype electric ferry, to be called the EVCat, was announced by Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner on 14 June 2023. Development would be funded by Brisbane City Council and developed jointly with River City Ferries and Aus Ships. The proposed prototype would be 15 metres (49 ft) long and carry 50 passengers, larger than the KittyCats but smaller than the CityCats.[45]
Former fleet
editMonohull ferries
editThe monohulled ferries worked the inner city CityHopper and cross-river CityFerry services. All units were suspended from service in July 2020 following the discovery of rotten wood in their hulls and later replaced by KittyCats.[46]
Restoration of these ferries was mooted but later abandoned due to cost and their 30+ year age; they were auctioned off in August 2022.[47]
CityHopper
editThese were powered by 134 kW (180 hp) Scania engines, with a maximum speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) and were operated by a crew of one.
Name | Call sign | Builder | Launched | Namesake | Passengers | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mermaid | 4372QEC | Norman Park Boat Builders | 1988 | HMS Mermaid (1817), ship used by John Oxley who explored the Brisbane River in December 1823 | 78 | |
Doomba | 4902QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | 1989 | SS Doomba | 78 | |
Otter | 4908QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | 1989 | HMQS Otter | 78 |
CityFerry
editThese were powered by 86 kW (115 hp) Perkins engines, with a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) and were operated by a crew of one.[5]
Kalparrin was the only ferry to survive withdrawal of the fleet due to having a steel hull instead of timber.
Name | Call sign | Builder | Launched | Namesake | Passengers | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bulimba | 959QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | 1984 | Bulimba | 47 | |
Lucinda | 1185QE | Norman Park Boat Builders | 1986 | Lucinda | 47 | |
Koopa | 1124QE | Norman Park Boat Builders | 1986 | SS Koopa, the Bribie Island ferry from 1912 to 1963 | 47 | |
Gayundah | 1283QE | Norman Park Boat Builders | 1986 | HMQS Gayundah | 47 | |
John Oxley | 6950QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | 1990 | John Oxley | 47 |
Network
editThe wharves are given in geographical order, heading upstream along the Brisbane River.
Wharf | Stopping pattern SE = SpeedyCat Express (weekday peak) CC = CityCat CH = CityHopper CF = CityFerry (cross river) |
Connections | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SE | CC | CH | CF | CF | ||
Northshore Hamilton | ● | ● | ||||
Apollo Road | ● | ● | ||||
Bretts Wharf | ● | |||||
Bulimba | ● | ● | ||||
Teneriffe | ● | ● | ● | |||
Hawthorne | ● | |||||
New Farm Park | ● | |||||
Mowbray Park | ● | |||||
Sydney Street | ● | ● | ||||
Howard Smith Wharves | ● | ● | ||||
Holman Street | ● | ● | ||||
Riverside | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||
Maritime Museum | ● | |||||
QUT Gardens Point | ● | |||||
South Bank | ● | ● | ● | |||
North Quay | ● | ● | ● | |||
Milton | ● | |||||
Regatta | ● | |||||
Guyatt Park | ● | |||||
West End | ● | |||||
UQ St Lucia | ● | ● |
References
edit- ^ a b "SeaLink Travel Group Onboard As Brisbane's New Ferry Operator". SeaLink Travel Group. 29 June 2020. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ SeaLink secures Brisbane CityCat contract Archived 30 June 2020 at the Wayback Machine Business News Australia 29 June 2020
- ^ CityCat, SpeedyCat and ferry services Archived 5 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine Brisbane City Council
- ^ a b Ferry operators to keep their jobs in new council contract Archived 3 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine Brisbane Times 29 June 2020
- ^ a b c d e f "River City Ferries". River City Ferries. Archived from the original on 19 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "CityCat timetable" (PDF). Translink. 15 November 2020.
- ^ "CityHopper timetable" (PDF). Translink. 15 November 2020. pp. 1–2.
- ^ "Bulimba-Teneriffe cross river timetable" (PDF). TransLink. 15 November 2020. pp. 3–6.
- ^ New timetable for CityHopper and Cross River services Archived 16 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine TransLink 26 October 2020
- ^ Stone, Lucy (23 October 2020). "Council scuttles two Brisbane River ferry services permanently". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ Fast Facts Archived 27 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine Transdev Brisbane Ferries
- ^ "New CityCat honours Brisbane's flood heroes". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
- ^ a b "Council cuts CityCat ties with 100-year-old Brisbane boat supplier". Brisbane Times. 5 December 2019. Archived from the original on 6 December 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Brisbane CityCats Archived 26 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine BSC Marine
- ^ "CityCat network offline for months, bikeway damage could take years to repair, Brisbane City Council warns". ABC News. 8 March 2022. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ Griffith, Chris (2 August 2004). "Supercat's launch barely raises a ripple". The Courier-Mail. p. 4. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ^ Kennedy, Julian (22 June 2005). "Ferry fever catching". Brisbane City News (1 ed.). p. 12. Archived from the original on 12 August 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ^ "Brisbane CityCats". Norman R. Wrights & Sons. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
- ^ Petrie, Constance Campbell; Petrie, Tom, 1831-1910 (1980). Tom Petrie's reminiscences of early Queensland (PDF). Currey O'Neil. p. 316. ISBN 978-0-85550-278-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Robinson, Georgina (23 June 2008). "New CityCat bolsters fleet". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 12 August 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ^ Waters, Georgia (13 November 2008). "Lucky 13 as Rice launches newest CityCat". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ^ Moore, Tony (21 April 2009). "CityCats to get military-style cameras". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ^ Moore, Tony (18 February 2010). "CityCats go express". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ^ Moore, Tony (2 July 2010). "New CityCat a floating canvas". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ^ Calligeros, Marissa (25 July 2011). "CityCat terminal to plumb new depths". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ^ Moore, Tony (4 October 2011). "New CityCat honours Brisbane's flood heroes". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ^ Kim Stephens (4 November 2014). "CityCat No. 20 a floating tribute to leaders' summit". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 11 April 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ^ Queensland Firebird colours cover Brisbane CityCat ferry to mark 10 straight wins Archived 14 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine 612 ABC Brisbane 3 June 2015
- ^ "CityCat 22". Brisbane City Council. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "Multimillion-dollar double-decker CityCat to be built". Brisbane Times. 6 November 2018. Archived from the original on 21 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
- ^ "Cat's out of the bag: First look inside Brisbane's double-decker CityCat". Brisbane Times. 20 August 2019. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "Brisbane's first double-decker CityCat hits the water". Brisbane Times. 22 October 2019. Archived from the original on 23 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "27m Passenger Catamaran - CityCat 22 "Yoogerah"". Aus Ships Group. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ "Neville Bonner's legacy to travel the Brisbane River". Brisbane Times. 25 August 2020. Archived from the original on 25 August 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "27m Passenger Catamaran - CityCat 23 "Neville Bonner"". Aus Ships Group. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ "27m Passenger Catamaran - CityCat 24 "Mianjin II"". Aus Ships Group. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ "27m Passenger Catamaran - CityCat 25 "Barrambin II"". Aus Ships Group. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
- ^ "27m Passenger Catamaran - CityCat 26 "Mooroolbin II"". Aus Ships Group. Archived from the original on 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ^ "27m Passenger Catamaran - CityCat 27 "Kurilpa II"". Aus Ships Group. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ Howard, Vicki (1 August 2023). "New CityCat launches into service". Vicki Howard. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "27m Passenger Catamaran - CityCat 28 "Binkinba II"". Aus Ships Group. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "RiverCity Ferries Brisbane – Our Fleet".
- ^ "'KittyCats'". Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ Gardan, Stephanie; Pemberton, Alexander Gordon; Graham, Verna E (1 January 1972). Kalparrin : a voluntary agency looks to itself. University of Queensland Press. p. 127. Archived from the original on 29 March 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
- ^ "New Gold CityGlider bus route and battery-powered ferry for Brisbane". Brisbane Times. 14 June 2023.
- ^ Council scuttles two Brisbane River ferry services permanently Archived 1 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine Brisbane Times 23 October 2020
- ^ "New owners for Brisbane's wooden hull cross-river ferries after auction process". ABC News. 17 November 2022. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.