Wikipedia

Bruny Island Ferry

The Bruny Island Ferry links Bruny Island to the Tasmanian mainland. Once operated by North Western Shipping and Towage Co. Pty Ltd and owned by the Tasmanian Government, the ferry Mirambeena travels between Kettering on the Tasmanian mainland and Roberts Point on Bruny Island, the service is now run by Sealink. The service is subsidised by the Tasmanian Government.

The Bruny Island ferry Mirambeena en route from Kettering to Roberts Point

History edit

Name Year Built Builder Initial Ownership Current Ownership / Fate Max. Passengers
SS Lottah 1901 Wilson, John Unknown
SS Ronnie 1903 Unknown
SS Dover Unknown
ML Taruna c.1910 McKay, Charles Harold Unknown
ML Gayclite c.1943 Unknown
SS Breone c.1910 Moore, Frederick Unknown
SS Excella 1912 Mr John Dalgleish James Rowe & Sons Pty. Ltd Unknown
SS Beagle Unknown 6 Vehicles

Roll on Roll off ferries have operated on the route since 1954:

  • SS Melba (1954–1961, then as a reserve until approximately 1977)
  • Mangana (1961-early 1980s, then as a reserve for the Harry O'May until 1991)
  • Harry O'May (early 1980s-early 1990s)
  • Mirambeena (early 1990s-)

SS Melba edit

The SS Melba was built in 1921 as a cargo steamer to operate on the River Derwent. She commenced operations as a single-deck vehicular ferry on the Bruny Island run on 13 December 1954,[1] with a capacity of 22 cars.[2] She was the primary Bruny Island ferry until the arrival of the Mangana in 1961. After that date, she continued on the Bruny Island run, assisting during peak periods and when the Mangana was under repair.

In 1975, the Tasman Bridge disaster created an urgent short-term need for ferries operating across the River Derwent. The Melba, despite frequent strandings due to her deep draft, operated between Hobart and Bellerive.

Mangana edit

The Mangana, originally known as the George Peat, was one of two 42.06 metre-long single-deck ferries built in 1930 to operate a service across the Hawkesbury River.[3]

After a stint operating on Auckland Harbour, the 42.06 metre long ship (now known as the Ewan W. Alison) was purchased by the Tasmanian Government in 1959. Although both the Ewan W. Alison and its sister ship the Alexander Alison were purchased from their New Zealand operators for use on the Bruny Island run, the Alexander Alison sunk on 30 April 1960 while being towed across the Tasman Sea. Seven months later, the Mangana was successfully towed across the Tasman, and commenced operations on the Bruny Island run on 27 March 1961. The Mangana was named for a Chief of the Bruny Island people, whose daughter Truganini is generally considered to have been the last full-blooded Tasmanian Aborigine.

The Melba stayed on to fill the gap left by the loss of the Mangana's sister ship.

The Mangana, with a capacity of 37 cars,[2] was the primary Bruny Island ferry until the early 1980s, staying on as a reserve ferry for the Harry O'May until 1991.

Harry O'May edit

Formerly the Hong Kong ferry Man On, the Harry O'May operated the Bruny Island route in the 1980s and 90's. Its two decks greatly increased carrying capacity relative to the smaller earlier ferries.[citation needed]

Move from Barnes Bay to Roberts Point edit

Prior to 1983, the Bruny Island end of the ferry service terminated at Barnes Bay. The trip from Kettering to Barnes Bay took around 35 minutes. The change of route to terminate at Roberts Point meant that the one-way trip time was reduced to 12 minutes.[2]

Mirambeena edit

The Mirambeena began operation on the Bruny Island run in the early 1990s. Completed in 1991, it is a 52-metre two-deck ferry equipped with a Voith-Schneider propulsion system.[3]

Name Year Built Builder Initial Ownership Current Ownership / Fate Max. Passengers
SS Melba 1921 Wilson Bros Unknown 22 Vehicles
SS Mangana previously George Peat 1930 Tasmanian Steam Navigation Company Unknown 37 Vehicles
MV Harry O May previously Man On c.1975 Hong Kong Launceston, Tas 48 Vehicles
MV Mirambeena 1991 SeaLink Travel Group 74 Vehicles
MV Bowen Backspring Pty Ltd SeaLink Travel Group 30 Vehicles
MV Moongalba 1974 Stradbroke Ferries SeaLink Travel Group 30 Vehicles
MV Nairana (MV Bruny Island Ferry#1) 2019 Richardson Devine Marine SeaLink Travel Group SeaLink Travel Group 36 Vehicles
MV Parrabah (MV Bruny Island Ferry#2) 2019 Richardson Devine Marine SeaLink Travel Group SeaLink Travel Group 36 Vehicles

References edit

  1. ^ "Barnes Bay Bruny Island Tasmania". Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
  2. ^ a b c "Tasmanian Industrial Commission Decision T No 74 of 1985". Retrieved 3 January 2008.
  3. ^ a b "Australian Maritime Safety Authority List of Registered Ships". Retrieved 3 January 2008.

External links edit

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