If the quote in the Manly Daily is accurate, then the successful tenderer for the Fast Ferry route doesn’t actually have any ferries yet.
“Seaflight Ferry Services managing director John McPherson said he will lease two, 30m high-speed vessels and is close to signing the contract to build two new 35m vessels which, he said, could do the Manly-Sydney run three or four minutes faster than the current service.”
Given that Seaflight has to start their service on 1 April 2010 – they’d better get their act together fast. Commuters will be very comfortable with the service that they have become used to and probably won’t be that patient with a service that doesn’t match up. It will be a pretty good effort if these guys – who don’t have a ferry yet – can get something up and running that compares to the existing service.
A quick investigation of the the owners of Seaflight indicates that their forte is running a slipway on Goat Island. http://www.ssre.com.au/facilities.htm
The decision by the government appears more remarkable every day. Quantitatively, the Seaflight tender must have been superior – but it would be enlightening to know what their practical experience is.
back of the ferry 