Bass & Flinders Cruises

Bass & Flinders Cruises
Predecessor Sydney Ferries
Founded 2009
Founder Richard Ford
Will Ford
Headquarters Sans Souci, Sydney, Australia
Area served
 Botany Bay
Port Jackson
Services Ferry operator
Parent NRMA
Subsidiaries Manly Fast Ferry
Website www,bassflinders.com.au

Bass & Flinders Cruises is an Australian ferry operator on Botany Bay and Port Jackson

History

Since January 1965, the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company and its successors had operated high speed hydrofoil and later JetCat services between Circular Quay and Manly.[1]

In December 2008, the New South Wales State Government, decided the Sydney Ferries JetCat service would cease and called for tenders to operate the service on a commercial basis.[2]

Bass & Flinders Cruises trading as Manly Fast Ferry commenced operating the service on 10 February 2009 on an interim basis until March 2010.[3]

On 1 April 2010, Sydney Fast Ferries commenced a five-year franchise to operate the service.[4][5] The service only operates during peak-hour on weekdays.[6] However Manly Fast Ferry continued to operate services between Circular Quay Wharf 6 and Manly East Pier via Taronga Zoo and Watsons Bay.[7]

In July 2014, expressions of interest were sought for the next franchise with Bass & Flinders Cruises, SeaLink Travel Group, Sydney Fast Ferries and Transit Systems responding.[8][9][10] In December 2014, the franchise was awarded to Bass & Flinders Cruises.[11][12]

Operations commenced on 1 April 2015 with three existing vessels from Bass & Flinders fleet along with two leased vessels. Four new Incat built vessels were delivered by the end of 2015, two were 24 metre ferries and two were 33 metres.[13][14][15] In 2017 the company ordered a third 33-metre fast ferry from Incat.[16]

Bass & Flinders also operate an Eco Hopper tourist hop on/hop off service around Sydney Harbour from Darling Harbour to Manly calling at nine locations.[17]

In December 2017 the business was purchased by the NRMA.[18]

References

  1. ↑ Andrews, Graeme (1975). The Ferries of Sydney. Brookvale: JW Books. pp. 53–56. ISBN 0 589071 72 6.
  2. ↑ Calls for Expressions of Interest for Manly Fast Ferry Minister for Transport 9 December 2008
  3. ↑ Jet Car Withdrawal and Manly Fast Ferry Commencement NSW Ministry of Transport
  4. ↑ Manly High Speed Ferry Service NSW eTendering 10 August 2009
  5. ↑ Contract Notice Award Detail Archived 13 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine. NSW eTendering 8 March 2010
  6. ↑ About us Archived 4 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Sydney Fast Ferries
  7. ↑ Battle to be the last fast ferry on the harbour Sydney Morning Herald 9 April 2010
  8. ↑ Fast Ferry Service Contract between Circular Quay and Manly NSW eTendering 17 July 2014
  9. ↑ Opinions of commuters wanted on four fast ferry tenderers Manly Daily 12 November 2014
  10. ↑ Terry Dodd has each way bet on Manly fast ferries tender Sydney Morning Herald 3 December 2014
  11. ↑ Cheaper fares, more services and new vessels for Manly Fast Ferry customers Transport for NSW 13 December 2014
  12. ↑ MFF wins tender Manly Fast Ferry 13 December 2014
  13. ↑ Rough seas in new fast ferry deal involving the two current operators Daily Telegraph 26 March 2015
  14. ↑ Tasmanian shipbuilder Incat wins contract to build four Manly fast ferries ABC News 2 May 2015
  15. ↑ Incat scores multi-million dollar Manly ferry coup Hobart Mercury 3 May 2015
  16. ↑ Hull 092 Incat
  17. ↑ Eco Hopper Bass & Flinders
  18. ↑ NRMA invests in Manly Fast Ferry NRMA 7 December 2017
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