Sydney RiverCat
Model of ferry used on the Parramatta River

RiverCat
Dawn Fraser in Darling Harbour in December 2014
Class overview
Builders
  • NQEA
  • Wavemaster International
Operators
Completed7
Active1
Retired1
Scrapped5
General characteristics
TypeCatamaran
Length37.0 metres
Beam10.5 metres
Draught1.4 metres
Decks1
Installed power2 x GM 8V92TA
Propulsion2 Shotell rudder/propeller drive
Speed22 knots
Capacity230
Crew3

The RiverCat is a class of catamarans operated by Transdev Sydney Ferries on the Parramatta River.

History

In 1991 the State Transit Authority ordered six Grahame Parker Design designed RiverCats from NQEA, Cairns to operate Parramatta River services.[1]

Named after famous Australian female athletes, the first was delivered in early 1992.[2] They replaced First Fleet class ferries on the Circular Quay to Meadowbank service on 7 May 1992.[3][4] In December 1993 they began operating to Parramatta.[5][6]

In October 1995, a seventh vessel built by Wavemaster International in Henderson, Western Australia was delivered, named Nicole Livingstone.[7] In 2000, Marlene Mathews participated in the 2000 Summer Olympics torch relay.[8]

Although primarily operating Parramatta River services, they also operate other Transdev Sydney Ferries services.[citation needed][which?]

Shane Gould in original livery, June 2001

Retirement

The introduction of the Parramatta River-class ferries allowed for the RiverCats to be phased out.[9]

Rivercats Marlene Mathews and Marjorie Jackson undergoing scrapping in July 2025

On 16 February 2023, Betty Cuthbert was the first vessel retired from service.[10] She was stripped for parts at Balmain Shipyard before being towed to Blackwattle Bay Marina for long-term storage, along with several decommissioned SuperCat-class ferries.

On 7 June 2024 Evonne Goolagong was withdrawn.[11][better source needed] She was used as a parts source at Balmain, before briefly being relocated to Rozelle Bay, along with sister Betty Cuthbert. Both vessels were moved to Rozelle in late June 2024.

In June 2024, Betty Cuthbert and Evonne Goolagong were moved to Yamba by tugboat to be cut up for scrap by Polaris Marine Group.[12][better source needed]

On 28 October 2024, Nicole Livingstone was withdrawn from service and was used for parts at Balmain Shipyard before being moved to Rozelle Bay, followed by a final movement to Yamba under tow where she was broken up in early 2025.

On 4 February 2025 Marlene Mathews was withdrawn from service.[13] The vessel was then used for parts at Balmain Shipyard, before being moved via tugboat to Rozelle Bay.

On 3 June 2025 Marjorie Jackson was withdrawn from service.[14] She was then stripped of reusable parts at Balmain Shipyard, before being towed to Rozelle Bay where she was moored alongside sister vessel Marlene Mathews.

On 17 June 2025 MV Marlene Mathews and MV Marjorie Jackson were transferred by tugboat up to Yamba for scrapping.[15] By September 2025 both Marjorie Jackson and Marlene Mathews were scrapped.

On 30 September 2025, MV Shane Gould was withdrawn from service after her 32 year long career.[16] She was used as a parts source until early November 2025, before being briefly moved to Rozelle. In the early hours of 17 November 2025, Shane Gould left Sydney under tow bound for Yamba. She arrived in Yamba in the morning of 19 November 2025, and was put up onto land on 21 November 2025. On 24 November 2025, scrapping began on the MV Shane Gould.

MV Dawn Fraser, the last vessel will be withdrawn and scrapped in February 2026. [17]

Vessels

Photo of vessel Name Call sign MMSI Builder Shipyard no. Year launched Namesake Status Notes

MV Betty Cuthbert at Circular Quay, 2016. 		Betty Cuthbert 18555 503376100 NQEA 181 February 1992 Betty Cuthbert Scrapped Withdrawn 16 February 2023

MV Dawn Fraser at Circular Quay, 2023. 		Dawn Fraser 18554 503376200 NQEA 180 February 1992 Dawn Fraser In service

MV Evonne Goolagong at Cockatoo Island, 2023. 		Evonne Goolagong 18705 503376300 NQEA 186 May 1993 Evonne Goolagong Scrapped Withdrawn 7 June 2024

MV Shane Gould near Homebush Bay, 2025. 		Shane Gould 18642 503376700 NQEA 184 January 1993 Shane Gould Undergoing scrapping Withdrawn 30 September 2025

MV Marlene Mathews passing Cockatoo Island, 2024. 		Marlene Mathews 18643 503376600 NQEA 185 January 1993 Marlene Mathews Scrapped Withdrawn 4 February 2025[18]

MV Marjorie Jackson near Barangaroo, 2025. 		Marjorie Jackson 18706 503376400 NQEA 187 May 1993 Marjorie Jackson Scrapped Withdrawn 3

June 2025 [1]


MV Nicole Livingstone at Cockatoo Island, 2024. 		Nicole Livingstone 19044 503241900 Wavemaster International 1995 Nicole Livingstone Scrapped Withdrawn 28 October 2024, Built as Nicole Stevenson, renamed after namesake returned to her maiden name.
Interior of MV Dawn Fraser

Incidents

In 1997 Marlene Mathews collided into a small wooden boat around Cockatoo Island.[19]

On 23 September 2005 Betty Cuthbert collided into the bollard at Circular Quay Wharf 5 East and damaging the front bow.[20][non-primary source needed]

On 11 January 2006 Betty Cuthbert collided into two moored vessels at Fern Bay.[21][non-primary source needed]

On 7 August 2006 Betty Cuthbert collided into a Luxury Cruiser in Woolwich.[22][23]

On 24 September 2006 Evonne Goolagong collided into a skiff near Cockatoo Island, injuring two people.[24]

On 5 January 2007 Dawn Fraser collided into a dinghy in Sydney Harbour, injuring two people. [25]

On 2 August 2010 Marjorie Jackson collided into the stern of Betty Cuthbert which then force collided into the stern of the Evonne Goolagong in the Balmain Shipyard causing the Marjorie Jackson's starboard pontoon to be damaged. [26][non-primary source needed]

On 7 October 2013 Marlene Mathews crashed into Circular Quay Wharf 5 West, injuring 6 people and damaging the front bow.[27]

References

  1. ^ Sydney Ferries Transit Australia September 1991 page 211
  2. ^ Olympian RiverCats Australian Transport & Distribution Management March 1992 page 1
  3. ^ Services Fleetline issue 204 July 1992 page 132
  4. ^ Sydney's New Rivercats Transit Australia August 1992 pages 171-173
  5. ^ Scenic cruise west in sleek comfort Daily Telegraph Mirror 9 December 1993 page 63
  6. ^ Timetables and routes Fleetline issue 224 March 1994 page 56
  7. ^ Sydney Ferries Transit Australia December 1995 page 290
  8. ^ Olympic Transport in Action Transit Australia December 2000 page 279
  9. ^ Australian-made ferries to take to Parramatta River Transport for NSW 26 June 2023
  10. ^ Betty Cuthbert Transdev Sydney Ferries 16 February 2023
  11. ^ Come for a last ride on our Evonne Goolagong vessel Transdev Sydney Ferries Instagram 5 June 2024
  12. ^ Polaris Marine Group at Sydney Harbour Heads Polaris Marine Group Facebook 26 June 2024
  13. ^ "Transdev Sydney Ferries". Facebook. 4 February 2025.
  14. ^ "Transdev Sydney Ferries". Facebook Transdev sydney ferries. 3 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Polaris Marine Group facebook". Facebook. 17 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Transdev Sydney Ferries Instagram. "Come for a last ride on the Shane Gould"". Instagram. 26 September 2025.
  17. ^ O'Sullivan, Matt (14 January 2026). "Large Manly ferry and last of RiverCats to be turned into scrap metal". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  18. ^ "Transdev Sydney Ferries". Facebook.
  19. ^ Chris Cowper (22 January 2013). Rivercat collision c. 1997. Retrieved 3 December 2025 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ "FERRY SAFETY INVESTIGATION REPORT COLLISION OF RIVERCAT BETTY CUTHBERT NUMBER 5 EAST WHARF, CIRCULAR QUAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2005" (PDF). parliament.nsw.gov.au. 23 February 2006.
  21. ^ "FERRY SAFETY INVESTIGATION REPORT COLLISION BETWEEN SYDNEY FERRIES' BETTY CUTHBERT AND TWO MOORED VESSELS FERN BAY" (PDF). otsi.nsw.gov.au. 31 July 2006.
  22. ^ Baker, Jordan (8 August 2006). "Sinking feeling on a luckless RiverCat". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  23. ^ "RiverCat crash blamed on human error". ABC News. 7 August 2006. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  24. ^ "Ferry, boat collide on Sydney Harbour". The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 September 2006. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  25. ^ Welch, Dylan (5 January 2007). "Leg lost in horror ferry collision". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  26. ^ "COLLISION INVOLVING SYDNEY FERRIES VESSEL MARJORIE JACKSON BALMAIN SHIPYARD" (PDF). otsi.nsw.gov.au.
  27. ^ Levy, Megan (7 October 2013). "Six hurt after ferry crashes at Circular Quay". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 December 2025.

Media related to Sydney RiverCats at Wikimedia Commons

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