Sydney Harbour will host the first trial of an Australian-made electric ferry after contracts were signed to build the locally designed vessel.
Shipbuilder Richardson Devine Marine will begin construction of the trial ferry later this year.
The new 24-metre battery electric ferry is expected to begin a 12-month trial in early 2028. If successful, it may enter passenger service in 2029 and operate on the new Sydney Fish Markets route.
Charging equipment will be installed at Barangaroo Wharf to support the ferry during the trial.
The electric ferry design is based on the Parramatta River Class ferries, which were designed by Australian naval architects. Seven Parramatta River Class ferries have already entered service since 2024, with a total investment of $49.6 million.
The trial will provide important information about the performance, reliability and operating range of electric ferry technology. It will help guide future decisions about moving the ferry fleet away from diesel power.
No decision has been made on purchasing more electric ferries. Further investment will depend on the results of the trial and assessments of the vessel’s performance in daily operations.
The electric ferry is expected to provide a quieter passenger experience and help reduce emissions on Sydney Harbour. The trial will also collect feedback from passengers and crew to improve future ferry services.
The transition to cleaner ferry technology is part of wider efforts to modernise public transport and support more sustainable travel options.