MV Freshwater
MV Freshwater at Balmain Shipyard
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| History | |
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| Name: | MV Freshwater |
| Namesake: | Freshwater Beach |
| Owner: | Government of New South Wales |
| Operator: | Harbour City Ferries |
| Port of registry: | Sydney |
| Route: | Manly ferry services |
| Builder: | State Dockyard |
| Cost: | $8.5 million |
| Yard number: | 105 |
| Laid down: | 1980 |
| Launched: | 27 March 1982 |
| Christened: | 18 December 1982 |
| Status: | In service |
| Class overview | |
| Preceded by: | Dee Why, Bingarra |
| Completed: | 4 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Freshwater class ferry |
| Displacement: | 1,140 tons (loaded) |
| Length: | 70.4 m (231 ft) |
| Beam: | 13.06 m (42.8 ft) |
| Draught: | 3.35 m (11.0 ft) |
| Decks: | 2 |
| Capacity: | 1,100 |
| Crew: | 6 |
| Notes: | Double ended single hull of welded steel construction. Welded aluminium alloy superstructure. |
MV Freshwater is the lead ship of four Freshwater class ferries that operate the Manly ferry service between Circular Quay and Manly on Sydney Harbour. The ferry is owned by the Government of New South Wales and operated by Harbour City Ferries. It is named after Freshwater Beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches. It was launched on 27 March 1982 by Olivia Cox and commissioned by her husband, Minister for Transport Peter Cox, on 18 December 1982.
The need for new ferries on the Manly-Circular Quay service was identified during the mid 1970s, during which time the service was characterised by deteriorating quality and low patronage.
Prior to 1971, the ferry services on the Manly-Circular Quay route were operated by the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company. In that year, the company posted a modest profit of $112,000. Patronage was approaching all-time lows, but the growth prospect for ferry services was considered strong. In November 1971, the company attracted a $1.5 million takeover bid from diversified transport company Brambles Industries. The initial bid was rejected, but a later offer of $2.1 million was accepted.
When Brambles took over, the Manly fleet consisted of four ferries: South Steyne, North Head, Bellubera and Baragoola, plus hydrofoils Manly, Fairlight and Dee Why. Almost immediately, the hydrofoils were sold to Waltons Finance and leased back. The four ferries were all ageing and expensive to maintain, and it soon became evident that Brambles intended to sell them to the State Government at the earliest opportunity. Fare increases and service suspensions followed. The Bellubera was withdrawn from service on 14 December 1973; the Baragoola was to follow early the next year. Public outrage and fears that the service would be suspended entirely led to the government resuming responsibility for the operation of the ferries in February 1974.
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