The NSW Government in Australia has announced the first of seven new Parramatta Class ferries, which have been designed by digital shipbuilder Incat Crowther, is now in service in Sydney.
The fleet of new ferries, which will serve the busy Parramatta River commuter route, are being constructed in Tasmania, Australia by Richardson Devine Marine.
A second vessel has begun sea trials and three more are already under construction, with the full fleet expected to enter passenger service over the next 18 months.
Incat Crowther worked closely with Transport for NSW and operator Transdev on the digital design of the new commuter ferries, including utilising augmented reality headset technology to enable stakeholders to engage with the digital model of the ship throughout the process.
While similar to the previous River Class vessels, the new Parramatta Class vessels are fully air-conditioned with no upper deck seating and feature floor to ceiling views, providing commuters with a smooth ride.
The vessels have a 200-passenger capacity, and will predominantly run on the busy Parramatta to Circular Quay route. They have been future-proofed for conversion to electric propulsion when network infrastructure is ready. The innovative, future-focused design means the new ferries are expected to have a 25-30 year working life.
