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NSW ferry saved by replacement delay

Jack GramenzAAP
NSW Labor is calling for another of Sydney's old ferries to return, after problems with new vessels.
Camera IconNSW Labor is calling for another of Sydney's old ferries to return, after problems with new vessels. Credit: AAP

Problems plaguing the replacements for the Freshwater class of Sydney ferries will see the service life of at least one ferry prolonged by having its engine re-fitted to operate on the Harbour again.

The Narrabeen Freshwater-class ferry was due to be retired sometime next year.

NSW Transport Minister Rob Stokes says he's instead ordered for its engine to be refitted and for the ferry to be retained in the fleet, calling it "good news for all the ferry enthusiasts".

Opposition transport spokeswoman Jo Haylen welcomed the return of the Narrabeen ferry but called for the Queenscliff ferry that retired in October to be brought back too after problems with the Emerald Class ferries that were supposed to replace them.

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Ms Haylen says the return of the Narrabeen "is a major backdown from the government", whose "transport procurement policies have utterly failed".

The government should "commit to building the transport infrastructure of the future right here in Australia, so passengers can be assured of safe and reliable ferries, trams, trains and buses," she says.

It's yet to be revealed when the Narrabeen will be fit for service again and how often it will run, but a number of problems with the Emerald Class ferries have emerged.

Cracks were found in hulls, windows shattered on the water, and the ferries have struggled to operate safely in high swells, or dock at very low tides.

Mr Stokes told 2GB on Thursday afternoon some of the issues with the new ferries are "not good enough".

"With any new fleet you're going to have issues as you're commissioning them, but I'm not going to make excuses," Mr Stokes says.

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