The current Freshwater class vessels, which service the F1 Manly ferry route between Manly and Circular Quay, are approaching the end of their economic life. Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is investigating options for the future service delivery of this route. Reaching out to industry with this market sounding EOI will allow TfNSW to engage with providers of new and emerging technology, which would provide a blueprint for the future needs for the F1 Manly route.

The NSW Government has made a commitment to investigate the provision of zero emissions vessels for the F1 Manly ferry route. Zero emissions technology for passenger ferries is an evolving space. There is a genuine opportunity for TfNSW and Sydney Ferries be on the forefront of emerging technologies and to become industry leaders in this space.

TfNSW is currently investigating opportunities for the inclusion of local content as part of future procurement of passenger ferries. TfNSW is interested in understanding the market’s local capabilities and interest in developing local capability. This EOI will contribute to TfNSW’s understanding of the market’s capability and capacity to provide vessels, including opportunities for local content.

We expect to gain a better understanding of appropriate timelines, expectations, and results from a project of this nature.

Although TfNSW has identified specific topics they seek to discuss and receive feedback on as part of the market engagement, we encourage proponents to identify and provide feedback on any additional issues and topics they wish to raise with TfNSW through the EOI process.

TfNSW invites expressions of interest for the supply of passenger ferries with innovative solutions for zero emission propulsion technology and local content.

TfNSW encourages key players within the zero emission vessel (ZEV) space to express a wide perspective of ideas and possibilities towards the concept, including:

• Local and international vessel designers and shipyards
• Zero-emission technology suppliers
• Systems designers and integrators.