River transport is about to get even better with a new double-decker CityCat now in service to help keep Brisbane moving.
Christened today, Baneraba II is the ninth double-decker CityCat delivered by the Schrinner Council.
The final double-decker CityCat will be delivered this year to complete the upgraded fleet.
Baneraba II was named after the first-generation vessel that launched in 1998 and means Toowong in the language of Brisbane’s Indigenous people.
The vessel was christened by ferry master Nina Moore.
Nina had worked at River City Ferries since 2018 and worked her way up from the customer service team to now mastering CityCats across the network.
With the addition of the newest CityCat there is now a surplus in vessels required to service the network.
The two oldest first-generation CityCats Mirbarpa and Tugulawa will now be retired, have their branding and fit outs removed and be made available for sale.
Depending on interest, further surplus first-generation vessels may also be made available for sale in the future.
Retired Brisbane City Council diesel buses have previously been sold to other Queensland bus operators for use.
Baneraba II will be in service from today. To plan your trip, visit the Translink website.
Quotes attributable to Chair for Transport Ryan Murphy
“Brisbane’s ferry network doesn’t just get passengers where they need to go, it’s a fantastic tourism offering that adds to our incredible lifestyle.
“As we welcome another new CityCat to the fleet, we’ve identified an opportunity to give our older vessels a second life elsewhere.
“We will always look for ways to keep costs down for residents while making sure we have the public transport we need to keep Brisbane moving.”
Quotes attributable to Ferry Master Nina Moore
“I’m proud to have built my career on the Brisbane River – from starting out as a Customer Service Officer to now stepping into the Ferry Master role.
“Just as Brisbane has grown stronger through challenges like floods and cyclones, and is now stepping onto the world stage as an Olympic city, our iconic ferry service has continued to evolve and grow with it.
“It’s amazing to see how far the fleet has come – Baneraba II will help us deliver an even better experience for our passengers, and I’m honoured to be part of this next chapter.”
ENDS
