SYDNEY — The New South Wales government has signed contracts for a 24-metre, battery-electric ferry to be trialled for 12 months starting in 2028. The vessel is expected to operate on a new Sydney Fish Market route when it enters passenger service in 2029.

The trial will begin two years later than the original planned start date of early 2026. The government has not made a decision on investing in additional electric ferries, with the outcome dependent on the trial conducted by Transport for NSW and Transdev.

Transport Minister John Graham said the trial will inform the transition of Sydney's entire ferry fleet from diesel propulsion, originally slated for 2035. "This northern beaches-designed, Australian-built ferry will provide a quieter ride and cleaner air on the harbour," he said.

Coordinator General Howard Collins said testing would assess the vessel's reliability and charging systems under real-world conditions, including passenger and crew feedback. Construction on the trial vessel will begin later this year at Tasmanian shipyard Richardson Devine Marine, which built the seven Parramatta River class ferries that have been launched in stages since May 2024.

The new electric battery ferry is modelled on a design by Sydney-based naval architects Incat Crowther. The River Class vessels, which run on diesel but are designed to be converted to electric propulsion, had as of January fully replaced retiring RiverCat and SuperCat vessels after 30 years of service.

The new Sydney Fish Market opened at the start of this year without a ferry service. Marketgoers will have to wait at least a year to travel to the site by ferry because plans for a $30 million wharf are still in the design stage.

In 2024, the Minns government announced plans to replace Sydney's fleet of 40 diesel-powered ferries with Australian-made, electric or hydrogen-powered vessels by 2035. The government has committed to achieve net zero emissions across its public transport operations by 2035.

All-electric bus, train and light rail services will run on fully renewable energy from next year under a new $1.9 billion deal. Most of the state's public buses, diesel-powered ferries and intercity and regional trains continue to use fossil fuels.

The government has ordered more than 500 electric buses, of which hundreds are already in operation, and expects to add 7,500 more to fully replace the 8,000-strong diesel-powered fleet.