Transdev Brisbane Ferries


Transdev Brisbane Ferries is the operator of the Brisbane City Council's ferry network under the TransLink integrated public transport scheme on the Brisbane River.

History

In August 1991, River Connections took over the operation of Brisbane City Council's fleet of Cityferries. CityCat services began in November 1996 with six vessels, each capable of carrying 149 passengers, with two further vessels added to the fleet in 1998. In December 1998 services east of Norman Park were withdrawn.
In November 2003, Metrolink Queensland was contracted to operate CityCat and Cityferry services for seven years.
In 2004, when Translink was established, the first second generation CityCat was introduced and passenger numbers increased by 26%. Late 2004 saw the restructuring of the Cityferry network which included more late night services. In response to the 31% increase in demand for CityCat services in 2005, another second generation CityCat was introduced.
In January 2007, services were reinstated to Apollo Road.
In 2008, Metrolink Queensland was rebranded as TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries, to align with the TransdevTSL branding of Transdev and Transfield joint ventures across Australia. Also in 2008, three new CityCats were launched and the Apollo Road wharf was reopened. In 2009 and 2010, three new CityCats were added to the fleet. Early 2010 saw the introduction of three express services during morning peak times. The second and third generation vessels have a capacity of 162 passengers.
In November 2010, a new contract for 10 years commenced. In December 2010 the joint venture was dissolved with Transfield Services selling its shares to Transdev.
All services were suspended on 10 January 2011 due to severe weather prior to the 2011 Brisbane floods. While the CityCat and ferry fleet escaped damage by mooring downstream at the Rivergate Marina or Manly harbour, much of the infrastructure was damaged or destroyed by the floods, causing services to be cancelled indefinitely. Partial CityCat and CityFerry services recommenced on 14 February 2011, using fifteen repaired wharves. Six of the remaining wharves opened using rescued and repaired pontoons on 18 April 2011.
In 2010, Transfield sold its 50% share in TransdevTSL, and all TransdevTSL operations including Brisbane Ferries became 100% Transdev owned. In March 2011, Transdev merged with Veolia Transport to form Veolia Transdev.
The upgraded West End was opened at the end of July 2011. A new terminal at Northshore Hamilton opened in October 2011.
In order to revitalise patronage on the inner city ferry route, the council converted it into a free service targeted at tourists in 2012. As part of this change, three of the existing fleet of ferries were painted red to be dedicated to the route, named CityHopper.
In July 2013, Veolia Transdev was renamed back to Transdev. As part of the rebranding, TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries was rebranded as Transdev Brisbane Ferries, and became a subsidiary of Transdev Australasia.
Transdev Brisbane Ferries will cease operating on 3 November 2020, with the next contract awarded to River City Ferries.

Services

CityCat

CityCat services operate from University of Queensland 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. Not all CityCat services stop all stops, with some peak time express services operating.

CityHopper

CityHopper is an inner city service between North Quay and Sydney Street, stopping at South Bank, Maritime Museum, Thornton Street, Eagle Street Pier, Holman Street and Dockside.

CityFerry

CityFerry is a cross-river service at three locations.
As at December 2018, Transdev Brisbane Ferries's fleet consisted of 22 CityCats, 3 CityHoppers and 6 CityFerries. The fleet has grown in size to cater for the significant increase in patronage on CityCat ferry services. Apart from the support vessels, the fleet is owned by Brisbane City Council and operated by Transdev.

CityCat

The CityCat vessels are catamarans, and named after the Aboriginal place names for various parts of the Brisbane River and adjacent areas. All CityCats are operated by a crew of three - a master, a deck hand and a ticket seller.
On 26 November 2019, Transdev Brisbane Ferries commenced operating the new double-decker CityCat, Yoogera, on behalf of Brisbane City Council. . It is the twenty-second CityCat to be built.

First generation

First generation CityCats have a capacity of 149 passengers. These are to be replaced by additional [|fourth generation] vessels.
NameMMSICall signBuilderLaunchedNamesakeReferenceWrap ThemeImage
Kurilpa50357530011930QEBrisbane Ship ConstructionsNovember 1996West EndBrisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white
Mirbarpa50357560011930QEBrisbane Ship ConstructionsNovember 1996IndooroopillyBrisbane Broncos rugby league team
Barrambin50357550012013QEBrisbane Ship ConstructionsNovember 1996Breakfast CreekCommemoration of 20 Years of CityCat services
Tugulawa50357540012014QEBrisbane Ship ConstructionsNovember 1996BulimbaBrisbane Bandits baseball team
Mianjin50357580012132QEBrisbane Ship ConstructionsDecember 1996Gardens PointBrisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white
Binkinba50357570012133QEBrisbane Ship ConstructionsDecember 1996New FarmBrisbane Bullets basketball team
Mooroolbin50357590020481QEBrisbane Ship ConstructionsOctober 1998Hamilton Sandbank"Team Brisbane" wrap designed by artist Debra Hood for the 2016 Team Brisbane CityCat Wrap competition
Baneraba50357610020854QEBrisbane Ship ConstructionsDecember 1998ToowongBrisbane Global Rugby Tens tournament

Second generation

Second generation CityCats have a capacity of 162 passengers.
NameMMSICall signBuilderLaunchedNamesakeReferenceWrap ThemeImage
Beenung-urrung50357620026483QENorman R Wright & SonsAugust 2004Highgate HillBrisbane Lions AFL team
Tunamun50357630026579QENorman R Wright & SonsJune 2005Petrie BightBrisbane Roar Football Club
Meeandah50357640028744QENorman R Wright & SonsFebruary 2008MeeandahINAS Global Games 2019
Wilwinpa50357650028744QENorman R Wright & SonsJune 2008Old ObservatoryBrisbane Heat Twenty20 cricket team
Ya-wa-gara50357660027885QENorman R Wright & SonsNovember 2008Breakfast CreekBrisbane International tennis tournament
Mahreel50357670027885QENorman R Wright & SonsApril 2009Spring Hill2018 Commonwealth Games

Third generation

Third generation CityCats have a capacity of 162 passengers.
NameMMSICall signBuilderLaunchedNamesakeReferenceWrap ThemeImage
Kuluwin50357680029438QENorman R Wright & SonsFebruary 2010WooloowinBrisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white
Gootcha50357690029440QENorman R Wright & SonsJuly 2010ToowongBased on artist Judy Watson's 1998 artwork 'Shoal'
Walan50357710029439QENorman R Wright & SonsDecember 2010HerstonAnzac centenary commemoration
Mudherri50357720029437QENorman R Wright & SonsJuly 2011MurarrieQueensland Reds rugby union team
Spirit of Brisbane50358620029436QENorman R Wright & SonsOctober 2011Commemorates the city's recovery following the 2011 Brisbane floods.
Nar-dha503017210A3K0202Norman R Wright & SonsNovember 2014NudgeeThe 2014 G20 Brisbane summit
Gilwunpa50302567032038QENorman R Wright & SonsJune 2015NundahQueensland Firebirds

Fourth generation

Seven 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.
In December 2019, Brisbane City Council awarded Aus Ships a contract for an additional six fourth generation CityCats to replace the first generation vessels at a cost of $3.73 million each.
NameMMSICall signBuilderLaunchedNamesakeReferenceWrap ThemeImage
Yoogera503092890Aus ShipsOctober 2019Mouth of Breakfast Creek
City Cat 23Aus ShipsTemporary yard name
City Cat 24Aus ShipsTemporary yard name
City Cat 25Aus ShipsTemporary yard name
City Cat 26Aus ShipsTemporary yard name
City Cat 27Aus ShipsTemporary yard name
City Cat 28Aus ShipsTemporary yard name

CityHopper

CityHopper is the inner city ferry service. These are powered by Scania engines, have a maximum speed of and are operated by a crew of one.
NameCall signBuilderLaunchedNamesakePassengersImage
Mermaid4372QECNorman R Wright & Sons1987HMS Mermaid, ship used by John Oxley who expored the Brisbane River in December 182378
Doomba4902QENorman Park Boat Builders1989SS Doomba78
Otter4908QENorman R Wright & Sons198978

CityFerry

CityFerry covers shorter distance and cross-river services. These are powered by Perkins engines, have a maximum speed of and are operated by a crew of one.
NameCall signBuilderLaunchedNamesakePassengersImage
BulimbaNorman R Wright & Sons1984Bulimba47
Lucinda1185QENorman Park Boat Builders1986Lucinda47
Koopa1124QENorman Park Boat Builders1986SS Koopa, the Bribie Island ferry from 1912 to 196347
Gayundah1283QENorman Park Boat Builders1986HMQS Gayundah47
John Oxley6950QENorman R Wright & Sons1990John Oxley47
Kalparrin9570QEQueensland Port Services1993An Aboriginal word meaning "to help carry a load"47

Support vessels

TransDev owns two support vessels.
NameIDBuilderLaunchedTypeImage
TenacityRiver Connections1991Maintenance barge
TenaciousAus Boats1993Fuel barge

Ferry network

The wharves are given in geographical order, heading upstream along the Brisbane River.

Wharf damage

In January 2011, all of the wharves were damaged or destroyed during the Brisbane floods and the services were suspended indefinitely. Ten wharves had minor damage, six had moderate damage and seven required rebuilding. No ferries were lost.
It was expected that the infrastructure repairs would take months to replace. Temporary facilities were operating at most terminals by mid-April 2011.