Emerald class
Bungaree at Circular Quay in November 2017
Class overview
BuildersIncat (Generation 1), Jianglong Shipbuilding Co (Generation 2)
OperatorsTransdev Sydney Ferries
Built2016-2021
Completed9
Active9
General characteristics
TypeCatamaran
Length35 metres
Beam10 metres
Decks2
Installed power2 x Yanmar 6AYEM-GT
Speed26 knots
Capacity400
Crew3

The Emerald ferry class is a class of ferry operated by Sydney Ferries on Sydney Harbour. There is capacity for about 400 passengers, improved accessibility for people with disabilities, wi-fi access, luggage and bicycle storage areas and charging stations/ USB ports for electronic devices.

History

Generation 1 (Inner Harbour)

In November 2014, the Government of New South Wales announced six new ferries would be ordered for use on Sydney Ferries services.[1][2] In September 2015, the contract to build the ferries was awarded to Incat.[3][4] The first ferry was expected to enter service in late 2016.[5]

However, the entry into service was delayed due to problems uncovered during testing that required modifications to the vessel.[6] Fred Hollows was the first ferry to enter service, commencing operations on 26 June 2017.[7][8] The introduction of the Emerald class ferries allowed the final two Lady class ferries to be withdrawn in October 2017.[9]

The sixth was delivered carrying the name Emerald 6. Transport for NSW subsequently announced it would be renamed Ferry McFerryface along the same lines as Boaty McBoatface. However the Maritime Union of Australia refused to crew the vessel in protest at the name.[10][11] It entered service in December 2017 named Emerald 6 with a Ferry McFerryface sticker below the bridge.[12] In January 2018, following revelations that the name wasn't a public vote winner but selected by Transport Minister Andrew Constance, it was renamed May Gibbs.[13]

Generation 2 (Manly)

Clontarf, a Gen 2 Emerald class ferry

In 2021 second series of Emerald class ferries (Generation 2), fitted with wave-piercing hulls, were built to replace the Freshwater-class ferries on the Manly ferry services.[14][15] The new vessels were named after Sydney Harbour beaches Fairlight, Clontarf and Balmoral.[16] In October 2021 the first of the new ferries Fairlight was put into service a few days after the Freshwater-class ferry MV Queenscliff was retired. The rest of the vessels entered service throughout the next month.[17] The new Emerald-class vessels were heavily criticized due to numerous problems and incidents that affected the vessels performance. In November 2021 the ferry Balmoral was undertaking trials in high seas when a window smashed and the rudder was damaged. This caused many to doubt the vessels ability to cross Sydney heads on days with big swells.[18] Another problem identified with the vessels was that the vessels were unable to load and unload passengers on the west side of Manly Wharf in low tide. This meant that the vessels were required to use the east side of the wharf, which is typically used by the Manly Fast Ferry, during low tide causing delays for both services.[19] In December 2021 Transport minister Rob Stokes announced that the Freshwater-class ferry MV Narrabeen would have its engine rebuilt and would be returned to service due to the on going problems with the new Emerald-class vessels.[20] The new Emerald-class ferries currently operate all week round along with MV Freshwater and MV Collaroy on weekends and public holidays. On 12 March 2022 it was announced that the vessels had been cleared to operate in swells of up to 4.5 metres.

On 26 September 2022, all Generation 2 Emerald class ferries were removed from service after a near miss with the cruise ship Coral Princess, due to a steering fault.[21]

Design

Fred Hollows in July 2017

The Emerald class operate on Cross Harbour ferry services and are designed to look similar to the First Fleet class vessels. The ferries seat 375 passengers. The Generation 2 Emerald class were designed with wave piercing hulls to allow them to cross the Sydney Heads on days with high swells. The most noticeable difference between the Generation 1 and Generation 2 Emerald class ferries is 2 large handle like structures on the bows of the Generation 2 ferries.

Vessels

NameCall signMMSIShipyard noCompletedNamesakeReference
Catherine Hamlin24622503046120Incat 0822016Catherine Hamlin[22]
Fred Hollows24712503053140Incat 0832017Fred Hollows[23]
Victor Chang24713503055050Incat 0842017Victor Chang[24]
Pemulwuy24714503057290Incat 0852017Pemulwuy[25]
Bungaree24715503058420Incat 0862017Bungaree[26]
May Gibbs24716503059930Incat 0872017May Gibbs[13]
Fairlight4575545031068202021Fairlight
Balmoral4575875031067902021Balmoral
Clontarf4575995031068102021Clontarf

References

  1. ↑ Six iconic new modern ferries for Sydney Harbour Archived 5 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 28 November 2014
  2. ↑ New Sydney ferries set to sail from 2016 Archived 28 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Morning Herald 28 November 2014
  3. ↑ "Australian shipyard to build Sydney's new ferries". Transport for NSW. 23 September 2015. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015.
  4. ↑ Six new ferries for Sydney Harbour Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Incat 23 September 2015
  5. ↑ "Sydney's Ferry Fleet". Transport for NSW. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  6. ↑ O'Sullivan, Matt (30 January 2017). "Sydney's first new government-owned ferries in years hit bumpy waters". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  7. ↑ "Fred Hollows enters service". Transport for NSW. 26 June 2017. Archived from the original on 26 June 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  8. ↑ McPhee, Sarah (26 June 2017). "New Barangaroo Wharf open for ferries". news.com.au. Australian Associated Press. Archived from the original on 27 June 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  9. ↑ O'Sullivan, Matt (24 October 2017). "Fate of Sydney's last ladies of the harbour finally sealed". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  10. ↑ Ferry McFerryface to be the name of new Sydney ferry after public vote Archived 13 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine ABC News 14 November 2017
  11. ↑ Ferry workers to boycott Ferry McFerryface Archived 1 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine SBS World News 14 November 2017
  12. ↑ Ferry McFerryface sets sail as union, government agree to name change Archived 14 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine Seven News 17 December 2017
  13. 1 2 Ferry McFerryface wasn't public pick for new ferry name until Andrew Constance's captain's pick Archived 26 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine Daily Telegraph 30 January 2018
  14. ↑ Future for Freshwater ferry secured Archived 27 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 27 November 2020
  15. ↑ Second Freshwater ferry retained Archived 28 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 14 January 2021
  16. ↑ New ferries to be named after popular harbour beaches Archived 3 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 3 February 2021
  17. ↑ "No fanfare as Emerald class ferry quietly rolled out". 31 October 2021. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  18. ↑ "Window shattered, rudder problem identified as new Manly ferry fails testing". 28 November 2021. Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  19. ↑ O'Rourke, Jim (12 November 2021). "Manly ferry: New smaller vessels can't take on passengers during very low tide". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  20. ↑ "Live: NSW Now: Sydney ferry saved from mothballs after underperformance of new models". ABC News. 9 December 2021. Archived from the original on 25 December 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  21. ↑ O'Sullivan, Matt (26 September 2022). "Manly ferries removed from service after steering failure near cruise ship". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  22. ↑ Aussie doctor lends her name to newest ferry Archived 22 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine Transport for New South Wales 15 November 2016
  23. ↑ Incat ferries bound for Denmark & Sydney Harbour The Mercury 21 April 2017
  24. ↑ Victor Chang joins Sydney's ferry fleet Transport for New South Wales 18 August 2017
  25. ↑ Pemulwuy arrives in Sydney Transport for New South Wales 30 August 2017
  26. ↑ New ferries to cater for population boom along Parramatta River Archived 7 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Morning Herald 2 October 2017

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