Contracts have been signed to build Sydney’s first battery-powered electric ferry, but the vessel won’t begin trials until early 2028, two years later than originally planned, and won’t enter passenger service on the Blackwattle Bay route until 2029.
The 24-metre ferry will be built by Tasmanian shipbuilder Richardson Devine Marine, with construction starting later this year. It’s modelled on the Parramatta River Class ferries already operating on Sydney Harbour and was designed by Northern Beaches-based naval architects Incat Crowther.
For Surry Hills residents and inner-city visitors who use the Sydney Fish Market at Blackwattle Bay, the timeline means a quieter, cleaner ferry connection to that precinct is still the better part of three years away.
The vessel itself, and what makes it different
The ferry runs entirely on battery-electric propulsion, producing no diesel exhaust and significantly less noise than the current fleet. At 24 metres, it sits in the same size class as the Parramatta River Class ferries, which have been well regarded since their staged rollout from May 2024.
Shoreside charging infrastructure will be installed at Barangaroo Wharf to support the trial. The proposed route after the trial period would connect Barangaroo to the new Sydney Fish Market precinct at Blackwattle Bay, which relocated from Pyrmont and opened earlier this year.
Transport for NSW Co-ordinator General Howard Collins described the trial as a genuine learning exercise. “This 12-month trial is an important learning opportunity,” he said. “It will allow us to test the vessel’s performance, reliability, and charging systems in real-world conditions while gathering feedback from passengers and crew.”
The challenge facing the rollout
When plans to electrify the Sydney ferry fleet were first announced, the initial trial vessel was expected on the water by 2026. The confirmed start of trials in early 2028 represents a two-year slip.
No decision has yet been made on ordering additional electric ferries beyond this first trial vessel. Transport for NSW and ferry operator Transdev Sydney Ferries will assess the trial’s results before any broader fleet commitment is considered.
The longer-term target, replacing Sydney’s 40-strong diesel fleet with electric or hydrogen-powered alternatives by 2035, depends heavily on what the trial delivers.
The contrast with the existing Parramatta River Class ferries is worth noting. Those vessels, designed with future electric conversion in mind, have operated without the controversies that marked an earlier generation of overseas-purchased River Class ferries, which entered service with steering defects, asbestos contamination concerns and clearance issues on the Parramatta River.
A fish market that finally has its own wharf
The Sydney Fish Market’s move to Blackwattle Bay has been a long time coming. The new precinct opened in 2026 after years of planning and construction, giving one of Sydney’s most visited destinations a purpose-built waterfront home with dramatically expanded public access.
A direct ferry connection, when it eventually arrives, would give inner-city residents and visitors a genuinely useful alternative to driving or catching a bus. The Barangaroo to Blackwattle Bay run is short and the harbour setting would make it one of the more enjoyable commutes on the network.
The wait, however, is until 2029 at the earliest.
Published 29-May-2026
