# RiverCity Ferries

RiverCity Ferries is a public transport company which commenced operating ferry services in Brisbane on 4 November 2020. It is a subsidiary of the Kelsian Group.
RiverCity Ferries operates 32 vessels serving 21 wharves on the Brisbane River under a ten-year contract (with an optional five-year extension) with the Brisbane City Council. The company won the contract from the previous operator, Transdev Brisbane Ferries.

## Services
### CityCat

CityCat services began operating in November 1996 with a fleet of six high-speed catamarans. The service proved very popular with more than five million trips taken by 2004.
CityCat services operate from UQ St Lucia 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, Riverside and Holman Street.

### Cross River

Cross River consists of cross-river services at two locations.
* Bulimba – Teneriffe
* Holman Street – Riverside known as the Kangaroo Point Cross River Service.

### Changes from 15 November 2020

* Some services which were suspended by Brisbane City Council on 20 July 2020, were either cancelled or reintroduced by RiverCity Ferries as follows:-
* The Norman Park Cross River service was cancelled permanently.
* Resumed services were:
** The Kangaroo Point Cross River service no longer stops at Thornton Street and Eagle Street, and instead operates from Holman Street to Riverside wharf only.
** Likewise the CityHopper service no longer stops at Dockside, Thornton Street and Eagle Street. Riverside Wharf can be used instead of Eagle Street.
** The resumed services use the leased KittyCat catamarans.

## Fleet

RiverCity Ferries's fleet consists of 23 CityCats, five KittyCats and one CityFerry (out of service undergoing repair). All except the KittyCats are owned by Brisbane City Council; the KittyCats are leased from Captain Cook Cruises.

### CityCat ferries

The CityCat vessels are catamarans, and named after the Aboriginal place names for various parts of the Brisbane River and adjacent areas (with the exception of the 19th CityCat, the Spirit of Brisbane, which honours the 2011 flood recovery volunteers). All CityCats are operated by a crew of three - a master, a deck hand and a ticket seller.

#### First generation

First generation CityCats have a capacity of 149 passengers. These are to be replaced by additional fourth generation vessels.
| Name | MMSI | Call sign | Builder | Launched | Withdrawn | Namesake | Wrap Theme |
| Kurilpa | 503575300 | 11930QE | Brisbane Ship Constructions | November 1996 | | West End | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |
| Mirbarpa | 503575600 | 11930QE | Brisbane Ship Constructions | November 1996 | | Indooroopilly | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |
| Barrambin | 503575500 | 12013QE | Brisbane Ship Constructions | November 1996 | 2021 | Breakfast Creek | Commemoration of 20 Years of CityCat services |
| Tugulawa | 503575400 | 12014QE | Brisbane Ship Constructions | November 1996 | | Bulimba | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |
| Mianjin | 503575800 | 12132QE | Brisbane Ship Constructions | December 1996 | January 2021 | Gardens Point | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |
| Binkinba | 503575700 | 12133QE | Brisbane Ship Constructions | December 1996 | | New Farm | Brisbane Bullets basketball team |
| Mooroolbin | 503575900 | 20481QE | Brisbane Ship Constructions | October 1998 | | Hamilton Sandbank | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |
| Baneraba | 503576100 | 20854QE | Brisbane Ship Constructions | December 1998 | | Toowong | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |

#### Second generation

Second generation CityCats have a capacity of 162 passengers.
| Name | MMSI | Call sign | Builder | Launched | Withdrawn | Namesake | Wrap Theme |
| Beenung-urrung | 503576200 | 26483QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | August 2004 | 1 March 2022 Sunk during the 2022 eastern Australia floods | Highgate Hill | Brisbane Lions AFL team |
| Tunamun | 503576300 | 26579QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | June 2005 | | Petrie Bight | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |
| Meeandah | 503576400 | 28744QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | February 2008 | | Meeandah | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |
| Wilwinpa | 503576500 | 28744QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | June 2008 | | Old Observatory | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |
| Ya-wa-gara | 503576600 | 27885QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | November 2008 | | Breakfast Creek | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |
| Mahreel | 503576700 | 27885QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | April 2009 | | Spring Hill | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |

#### Third generation

Third generation CityCats have a capacity of 162 passengers.
| Name | MMSI | Call sign | Builder | Launched | Namesake | Wrap Theme |
| Kuluwin | 503576800 | 29438QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | February 2010 | Wooloowin | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |
| Gootcha | 503576900 | 29440QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | July 2010 | Toowong | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |
| Walan | 503577100 | 29439QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | December 2010 | Herston | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |
| Mudherri | 503577200 | 29437QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | July 2011 | Murarrie | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |
| Spirit of Brisbane | 503586200 | 29436QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | October 2011 | | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |
| Nar-dha | 503017210 | A3K0202 | Norman R Wright & Sons | November 2014 | Nudgee | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |
| Gilwunpa | 503025670 | 32038QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | June 2015 | Nundah | Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white |

#### 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 Group.
In December 2019, Brisbane City Council awarded Aus Ships Group a contract for an additional six fourth generation CityCats to replace the first generation vessels at a cost of $3.73 million each.
| Name | MMSI | Call sign | Builder | Launched | Namesake |
| Yoogera | 503092890 | 456106 | Aus Ships | October 2019 | Mouth of Breakfast Creek |
| Neville Bonner | 503102970 | 457882 | Aus Ships | August 2020 | Neville Bonner |
| Mianjin II | 503110450 | 458416 | Aus Ships | May 2021 | Gardens Point |
| Barrambin II | | | Aus Ships | | Breakfast Creek |
| Mooroolbin II | 503131370 | 459861 | Aus Ships | May 2022 | Hamilton Sandbank |
| Kurilpa II | 503138850 | 459862 | Aus Ships | December 2022 | West End |
| Binkinba II | 503149810 | 461419 | Aus Ships | July 2023 | New Farm (Place of the land tortoise) |
| Tuguluwa II | | | Aus Ships | April 2024 | Bulimba |
| City Cat 30 | | | Aus Ships | 2025 (planned) | Temporary yard name |

### KittyCats

Five 12 m (39 ft) catamarans, nicknamed KittyCats, have been leased from RiverCity Ferries sister company Captain Cook Cruises in Sydney since November 2020 to operate the CityHopper and cross river services after the monohulled ferries were withdrawn. The first, MV Cockle Bay, arrived in Brisbane in September 2020, to fill in for suspended cross-river ferries awaiting repairs. They have a capacity of 60 passengers (36 seated, 24 standing) and are operated by a crew of one. They are powered by 2 x 184 kW (247 hp) Cummins QSB engines with an economical normal service speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) and a maximum speed of 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph).
Residents have expressed concerns with the noise of the new vessels, since they came into service. In May 2021, Council ordered SeaLink to fit mufflers to the vessels to reduce noise concerns.
| Name | MMSI | Call sign | Builder | Launched | Namesake |
| Cockle Bay | 503047610 | | Richardson Devine Marine | 2017 | Cockle Bay |
| Blackwattle Bay | 503047620 | | Richardson Devine Marine | 2017 | Blackwattle Bay |
| White Bay | 503076850 | 455645 | Harwood Marine | 2018 | White Bay |
| Pyrmont Bay | 503076860 | 455653 | Harwood Marine | 2018 | Pyrmont Bay |
| Albert (#455645) | | | | 2020 | |
| Eleanor (#452393) | | 44544QE | | 2020 | |
| Melany (#455653) | | | | 2020 | |
| Victoria (#454604) | | | | 2020 | |
| Taylor (#444165) | | | | 2020 | |

### Monohulled ferries

When the CityFerry and CityHopper fleets were suspended from service due to deterioration of their wooden hulls, ferry Kalparrin with its steel monohull remained in service. Kalparrin is currently out of service, undergoing refurbishment and restoration. It's powered by a 86 kW (115 hp) Perkins engine, with a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) and is operated by a crew of one.
| Name | Call sign | Builder | Launched | Namesake | Passengers | Image |
| Kalparrin | 9570QE | Queensland Port Services | 1993 | An Aboriginal word meaning "to help carry a load" | 47 | |

### EVCat

A prototype electric ferry, to be called the EVCat, was announced by Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner on 14 June 2023. Development would be funded by Brisbane City Council and developed jointly with River City Ferries and Aus Ships. The proposed prototype would be 15 metres (49 ft) long and carry 50 passengers, larger than the KittyCats but smaller than the CityCats.

## Former fleet
### Monohull ferries

The monohulled ferries worked the inner city CityHopper and cross-river CityFerry services. All units were suspended from service in July 2020 following the discovery of rotten wood in their hulls and later replaced by KittyCats.
Restoration of these ferries was mooted but later abandoned due to cost and their 30+ year age; they were auctioned off in August 2022.

#### CityHopper

These were powered by 134 kW (180 hp) Scania engines, with a maximum speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) and were operated by a crew of one.
| Name | Call sign | Builder | Launched | Namesake | Passengers |
| Mermaid | 4372QEC | Norman Park Boat Builders | 1988 | HMS Mermaid (1817), ship used by John Oxley who explored the Brisbane River in December 1823 | 78 |
| Doomba | 4902QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | 1989 | SS Doomba | 78 |
| Otter | 4908QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | 1989 | HMQS Otter | 78 |

#### CityFerry

These were powered by 86 kW (115 hp) Perkins engines, with a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) and were operated by a crew of one.
Kalparrin was the only ferry to survive withdrawal of the fleet due to having a steel hull instead of timber.
| Name | Call sign | Builder | Launched | Namesake | Passengers |
| Bulimba | 959QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | 1984 | Bulimba | 47 |
| Lucinda | 1185QE | Norman Park Boat Builders | 1986 | Lucinda | 47 |
| Koopa | 1124QE | Norman Park Boat Builders | 1986 | SS Koopa, the Bribie Island ferry from 1912 to 1963 | 47 |
| Gayundah | 1283QE | Norman Park Boat Builders | 1986 | HMQS Gayundah | 47 |
| John Oxley | 6950QE | Norman R Wright & Sons | 1990 | John Oxley | 47 |

## Network

The wharves are given in geographical order, heading upstream along the Brisbane River.
| Wharf | Stopping pattern SE = SpeedyCat Express (weekday peak) CC = CityCat CH = CityHopper CF = CityFerry (cross river) | Stopping pattern SE = SpeedyCat Express (weekday peak) CC = CityCat CH = CityHopper CF = CityFerry (cross river) | Stopping pattern SE = SpeedyCat Express (weekday peak) CC = CityCat CH = CityHopper CF = CityFerry (cross river) | Stopping pattern SE = SpeedyCat Express (weekday peak) CC = CityCat CH = CityHopper CF = CityFerry (cross river) | Stopping pattern SE = SpeedyCat Express (weekday peak) CC = CityCat CH = CityHopper CF = CityFerry (cross river) | Connections |
| Wharf | SE | CC | CH | CF | CF | Connections |
| Northshore Hamilton | ● | ● | | | | |
| Apollo Road | ● | ● | | | | |
| Bretts Wharf | | ● | | | | |
| Bulimba | | ● | | ● | | |
| Teneriffe | ● | ● | | ● | | Blue CityGlider |
| Hawthorne | | ● | | | | |
| New Farm Park | | ● | | | | |
| Mowbray Park | | ● | | | | |
| Sydney Street | | ● | ● | | | |
| Howard Smith Wharves | | | ● | | ● | |
| Holman Street | | | ● | | ● | |
| Riverside | ● | ● | ● | | ● | |
| Maritime Museum | | | ● | | | |
| QUT Gardens Point | | ● | | | | |
| South Bank | ● | ● | ● | | | |
| North Quay | ● | ● | ● | | | |
| Milton | | ● | | | | |
| Regatta | | ● | | | | |
| Guyatt Park | | ● | | | | |
| West End | | ● | | | | Blue CityGlider |
| UQ St Lucia | ● | ● | | | | UQ Lakes busway station |