First Fleet-class ferry

First Fleet class
	Scarborough in Pyrmont Bay in November 2017
Class overview
Builders	Carrington Slipways
Operators	Urban Transit Authority; State Transit Authority; Sydney Ferries; Transdev Sydney Ferries;
Built	1984–1986
Completed	9
Active	9
General characteristics
Type	Catamaran
Displacement	83 tonnes
Length	25.4 m (83 ft)
Propulsion	MTU Series 60
Speed	11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Capacity	393

The First Fleet class is a class of ferry operated by Transdev Sydney Ferries on Sydney Harbour.

History

In the early 1980s, the Urban Transit Authority ordered nine catamaran ferries from Carrington Slipways, Tomago. They were to replace the K-class and wooden Lady class ferries on Sydney Harbour. The new vessels were named after ships of the First Fleet and were delivered between 1984 and 1986. It was originally intended that they would operate services on the Parramatta River, but they generated too much wash.

In 2006/07, the class were repowered with MTU Series 60 engines.^[1] As at November 2023, all nine remain in service with Transdev Sydney Ferries.^[2]

Between 2020 and 2022, eight of the ferries underwent life extension rebuilds to extend their lives for a further 10 years. The work was undertaken by Birdon at Port Macquarie and included new engines, refurbished interiors, the provision of air conditioning and additional safety features. The first vessel completed was the Golden Grove in June 2020.^[3]^[4]

Vessels

Name	Call sign	MMSI	Shipyard no	Launched	Status	Namesake	Reference	Additional Information
Supply	16496	503344800	163	10 December 1984	Active	HMS Supply		First vessel in service.
Sirius	15622	503345700	164	20 August 1984	Active	HMS Sirius		First vessel launched. Had different handrails up until 2023 drydocking. One of 3 vessels surveyed to go to Manly.
Alexander	15517	503344900	165	19 January 1985	Active	Alexander	^[5]^{[self-published source?]}	Only vessel to not receive a refit. Last vessel with wooden sponsons. Sponsons were replaced in 2024 docking at Balmain Shipyard
Borrowdale	16852	503345100	166	4 February 1985	Active	Borrowdale	^[6]^{[self-published source?]}	Has a flattened bow unique to this vessel.
Charlotte	17258	503345200	167	23 February 1985	Active	Charlotte	^[7]^{[self-published source?]}
Fishburn	15519	503345300	176	31 August 1985	Active	Fishburn	^[8]^{[self-published source?]}	One of 3 vessels surveyed to go to Manly.
Friendship	17458	503345400		9 May 1986	Active	Friendship	^[9]^{[self-published source?]}	Last vessel in service.
Golden Grove	16497	503345500	177	16th November 1985	Active	Golden Grove	^[10]^{[self-published source?]}	The pattern of windows that open is different on this vessel. First to receive refit. One of 3 vessels surveyed to go to Manly.
Scarborough	16814	503345600	178	1 February 1986	Active	Scarborough

References

^ News in Brief Marine Business June 2007
^ First fleet class Transdev Sydney Ferries
^ Golden Grove Ferry Refurbishment Birdon 12 June 2020
^ Sydney ferries get a facelift at Port Macquarie to extend life just shy of 50 years ABC News 19 June 2020
^ Alexander Archived 14 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Ferries of Sydney
^ Borrowdale Archived 14 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Ferries of Sydney
^ Charlotte Archived 14 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Ferries of Sydney
^ Fishburn Archived 14 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Ferries of Sydney
^ Friendship Archived 14 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Ferries of Sydney
^ Golden Grove Archived 14 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Ferries of Sydney

External links

Media related to First Fleet ferry class at Wikimedia Commons

[1] News in Brief Marine Business June 2007

[2] First fleet class Transdev Sydney Ferries

[3] Golden Grove Ferry Refurbishment Birdon 12 June 2020

[4] Sydney ferries get a facelift at Port Macquarie to extend life just shy of 50 years ABC News 19 June 2020

[5] Alexander Archived 14 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Ferries of Sydney

[6] Borrowdale Archived 14 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Ferries of Sydney

[7] Charlotte Archived 14 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Ferries of Sydney

[8] Fishburn Archived 14 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Ferries of Sydney

[9] Friendship Archived 14 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Ferries of Sydney

[10] Golden Grove Archived 14 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Ferries of Sydney

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v t e Ferries of Sydney Harbour
Individual ferries	Balgowlah Baragoola Barrenjoey Bellubera Binngarra Brightside Brighton Brothers Burra Bra Collaroy Curl Curl Dee Why Emu (II) Experiment Fairlight (1878) Freshwater Herald Kaikai Kalang Kaludah Kameruka Kamiri Kanangra Kanimbla Kara Kara Kareela Karingal Karrabee Kiandra Kirawa Kirrule Kookooburra Kooleen Koompartoo Kooroongaba Koree Kosciusko Kirribilli Kubu Kulgoa Kummulla Kuramia Kuranda Kurraba Kurrab-Ba Kuring-gai Kuttabul Lady Chelmsford Lady Cutler Lady Denman Lady Edeline Lady Ferguson Lady Scott Manly (II) Manly (III) Narrabeen (I) Narrabeen (III) North Head Phantom Queenscliff Rodney Rose Hill Packet Sophia Jane South Steyne Sydney 2000 Surprise Vaucluse Wallaby
Ferry classes	Dee Why class Emerald First Fleet Freshwater class Hydrofoil JetCat K class Lady Parramatta River River RiverCat SuperCat
Ferry operators	Kelsian Group Captain Cook Cruises Matilda Cruises Manly Fast Ferry Rosman Ferries Transdev Sydney Ferries
Former ferry operators	Australian National Line Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company Public Transport Commission State Transit Authority Sydney Ferries Corporation Sydney Ferries Limited Sydney Harbour Transport Board Transit Systems Urban Transit Authority
Miscellaneous	List of Sydney Harbour ferries Timeline of Sydney Harbour ferries Greycliffe disaster Rodney disaster