Post by ferryfast admin on Feb 17, 2012 13:08:30 GMT -5
Fast ferry to our future?
MICHELLE PAINE | February 18, 2012 12.00am
www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/02/18/301941_most-popular-stories.html
IMAGINE a ferry service that plies the sparkling River Derwent from Hobart and along the Eastern Shore, including Opossum Bay, and back along the Western Shore including MONA linking with Metro bus services.
And another that races from Kettering to Bruny Island and into Hobart, taking just 35 minutes including stops.
And all for a few million dollars.
That is the dream of ferry captain Rick Metcalfe and a growing band of Hobart leaders who have been excited by the public transport and tourism aspects.
They will put their plans to Infrastructure and Tourism Minister David O'Byrne next week.
Mr Metcalfe has just finished his job as an operations boss at Brisbane Ferries famous for its CityCats saying he wanted to pursue his idea for Hobart.
He could not believe a city with so much of its population close to the water was not making more use of it.
"People say it works in Brisbane because it has two million people, but people forget that the catchment area for Brisbane's ferries is only a very small proportion of the city and similar in size to Hobart's population," Mr Metcalfe said.
"I first came to Hobart in 2008 to visit friends and when I saw there was a river with no ferries, I did some research. Ferry transport is very green, very efficient and it would be an absolutely iconic tourism drawcard."
He started to speak to southern mayors and council groups and after more than three years' research, he has figures and has even tracked down four 14.4-metre ferries less than four years old that have been working the River Seine in Paris.
"I can get them to Melbourne delivered for $1.5 million and sail them here from there," he said.
He also bought the rights to a quadri-maran design from QuadTech Marine in the US, a four-hulled vessel of higher speed that would suit the Channel-Bruny-Hobart run.
That run could also be used for medical retrieval.
"I'd like to see Metro buy into it and I don't believe huge subsidies are needed to make it work," he said. "We could establish a public transport system that would cost $2.5-$3 million in the first year."
He has inspected the jetties and ferries around Hobart and many need little work to ready them for passengers and parking.
Ticketing would be the same as buses, with the most expensive trip about $10 from Kettering.
The main city route would also be able to visit New Norfolk, probably at weekends, linking with attractions including the steam train.
Stops could include Risdon and possibly Austins Ferry, while Wilkinsons Point was already set up perfectly for ferries, complete with disabled access, dropping passengers to Elwick and the Derwent Entertainment Centre.
Elwick MLC and former Glenorchy Mayor Adriana Taylor said the plans were full of promise.
"I've had meetings with Rick since 2008," she said. "I'm interested in public transport in Hobart and this would be a wonderful addition for a reasonable outlay.
"It is very exciting."
Derwent MLC Craig Farrell, who with Ms Taylor and Mr Metcalfe will meet Mr O'Byrne on Wednesday, said he would be inspecting the boats in Paris soon while on a personal trip.
"I thought I'd take the opportunity to speak to the brokers and have a look.
"Obviously, we'd need a business study done but a transport system set up for $2.5 million would seem very cheap. We'd have to use Metro's expertise," Mr Farrell said.
Mr Metcalfe said nearly everything could be sourced in Tasmania, including top boatbuilders and staff.
"This wouldn't be about competing, it would be about linking up to other businesses Rob Pennicott's boats for example, and we could make the service available for medical retrieval."
"The ferries would have free WiFi like Brisbane Ferries, with drinks and snacks provided through a franchise. The boats are temperature controlled for comfort."
Mr Metcalfe had also researched hydroxy fuel, a highly efficient fuel which uses water and is used extensively in the US.
He said the distance guidelines for consumers choosing to use a ferry was conservatively put at 400 metres from a ferry stop and 3km if using a bus, bike or car to the jetty or pontoon.
"In reality, it's closer to double that."
Mr Metcalfe said Brisbane Ferries was a prime example of how people could underestimate ferries' popularity.
"In four years they went from 3.5 million to 6.5 million trips a year, and all they did was a little bit of marketing," he said.
- - - -
Expert has runs on the board
RICK Metcalfe has just moved from Brisbane with his family to follow his dream for Hobart's waterways.
Mr Metcalfe worked for Brisbane Ferries for 16 years, leaving as a respected operations controller, where he was in charge of 19 CityCats, nine CityFerries and all staff on each shift in the nearly 200-strong operation.
Many people talked down the Brisbane Ferries' operations when it began but were silenced by its rapid growth and popularity, quickly going from a commuter service to double as an iconic experience for visitors.
A qualified master, or ferry captain, he has also worked on tugs and barges.
Managers of TransdevTSL [Brisbane Ferries] commended him for his integrity, knowledge, management skills and problem solving.
He has moved to Hobart with his wife, four children and two foster children, his family having cared for more than 200 foster children over the years.
MICHELLE PAINE | February 18, 2012 12.00am
www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/02/18/301941_most-popular-stories.html
IMAGINE a ferry service that plies the sparkling River Derwent from Hobart and along the Eastern Shore, including Opossum Bay, and back along the Western Shore including MONA linking with Metro bus services.
And another that races from Kettering to Bruny Island and into Hobart, taking just 35 minutes including stops.
And all for a few million dollars.
That is the dream of ferry captain Rick Metcalfe and a growing band of Hobart leaders who have been excited by the public transport and tourism aspects.
They will put their plans to Infrastructure and Tourism Minister David O'Byrne next week.
Mr Metcalfe has just finished his job as an operations boss at Brisbane Ferries famous for its CityCats saying he wanted to pursue his idea for Hobart.
He could not believe a city with so much of its population close to the water was not making more use of it.
"People say it works in Brisbane because it has two million people, but people forget that the catchment area for Brisbane's ferries is only a very small proportion of the city and similar in size to Hobart's population," Mr Metcalfe said.
"I first came to Hobart in 2008 to visit friends and when I saw there was a river with no ferries, I did some research. Ferry transport is very green, very efficient and it would be an absolutely iconic tourism drawcard."
He started to speak to southern mayors and council groups and after more than three years' research, he has figures and has even tracked down four 14.4-metre ferries less than four years old that have been working the River Seine in Paris.
"I can get them to Melbourne delivered for $1.5 million and sail them here from there," he said.
He also bought the rights to a quadri-maran design from QuadTech Marine in the US, a four-hulled vessel of higher speed that would suit the Channel-Bruny-Hobart run.
That run could also be used for medical retrieval.
"I'd like to see Metro buy into it and I don't believe huge subsidies are needed to make it work," he said. "We could establish a public transport system that would cost $2.5-$3 million in the first year."
He has inspected the jetties and ferries around Hobart and many need little work to ready them for passengers and parking.
Ticketing would be the same as buses, with the most expensive trip about $10 from Kettering.
The main city route would also be able to visit New Norfolk, probably at weekends, linking with attractions including the steam train.
Stops could include Risdon and possibly Austins Ferry, while Wilkinsons Point was already set up perfectly for ferries, complete with disabled access, dropping passengers to Elwick and the Derwent Entertainment Centre.
Elwick MLC and former Glenorchy Mayor Adriana Taylor said the plans were full of promise.
"I've had meetings with Rick since 2008," she said. "I'm interested in public transport in Hobart and this would be a wonderful addition for a reasonable outlay.
"It is very exciting."
Derwent MLC Craig Farrell, who with Ms Taylor and Mr Metcalfe will meet Mr O'Byrne on Wednesday, said he would be inspecting the boats in Paris soon while on a personal trip.
"I thought I'd take the opportunity to speak to the brokers and have a look.
"Obviously, we'd need a business study done but a transport system set up for $2.5 million would seem very cheap. We'd have to use Metro's expertise," Mr Farrell said.
Mr Metcalfe said nearly everything could be sourced in Tasmania, including top boatbuilders and staff.
"This wouldn't be about competing, it would be about linking up to other businesses Rob Pennicott's boats for example, and we could make the service available for medical retrieval."
"The ferries would have free WiFi like Brisbane Ferries, with drinks and snacks provided through a franchise. The boats are temperature controlled for comfort."
Mr Metcalfe had also researched hydroxy fuel, a highly efficient fuel which uses water and is used extensively in the US.
He said the distance guidelines for consumers choosing to use a ferry was conservatively put at 400 metres from a ferry stop and 3km if using a bus, bike or car to the jetty or pontoon.
"In reality, it's closer to double that."
Mr Metcalfe said Brisbane Ferries was a prime example of how people could underestimate ferries' popularity.
"In four years they went from 3.5 million to 6.5 million trips a year, and all they did was a little bit of marketing," he said.
- - - -
Expert has runs on the board
RICK Metcalfe has just moved from Brisbane with his family to follow his dream for Hobart's waterways.
Mr Metcalfe worked for Brisbane Ferries for 16 years, leaving as a respected operations controller, where he was in charge of 19 CityCats, nine CityFerries and all staff on each shift in the nearly 200-strong operation.
Many people talked down the Brisbane Ferries' operations when it began but were silenced by its rapid growth and popularity, quickly going from a commuter service to double as an iconic experience for visitors.
A qualified master, or ferry captain, he has also worked on tugs and barges.
Managers of TransdevTSL [Brisbane Ferries] commended him for his integrity, knowledge, management skills and problem solving.
He has moved to Hobart with his wife, four children and two foster children, his family having cared for more than 200 foster children over the years.