Bruny Island Ferry
Encyclopedia
The Bruny Island Ferry links Bruny Island to the Tasmanian mainland
. 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 subsidised
by the Tasmanian Government.
. She commenced operations as a single-deck vehicular ferry on the Bruny Island run on December 13, 1954, with a capacity of 22 cars. 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 Derwent River
. The Melba, despite frequent strandings due to her deep draft, operated between Hobart and Bellerive
.
.
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 April 30, 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 March 27, 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 Manganas sister ship.
The Mangana, with a capacity of 37 cars, was the primary Bruny Island ferry until the early 1980s, staying on as a reserve ferry for the Harry O'May until 1991.
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.
propulsion system.
When the Mirambeena is being serviced, other vessels operate the run. Recent replacements have included:
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. Operated by North Western Shipping and Towage Co. Pty Ltd and owned by the Tasmanian Government, the ferry Mirambeena travels between Kettering
Kettering, Tasmania
Kettering is a coastal town on the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. Kettering and Woodbridge nestle into the coast on the D'Entrecasteaux Channel opposite Bruny Island - two tiny settlements gazing across the narrow channel at the island's low lying hills...
on the Tasmanian mainland and Roberts Point on Bruny Island. The service is subsidised
Subsidy
A subsidy is an assistance paid to a business or economic sector. Most subsidies are made by the government to producers or distributors in an industry to prevent the decline of that industry or an increase in the prices of its products or simply to encourage it to hire more labor A subsidy (also...
by the Tasmanian Government.
History
Four ferries have operated on the route since 1954:- S.S. 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-)
S.S. Melba
The S.S. Melba was built in 1921 as a cargo steamer to operate on the Derwent RiverDerwent River (Tasmania)
The Derwent is a river in Tasmania, Australia. It was named after the River Derwent, Cumbria by British Commodore John Hayes who explored it in 1793. The name is Brythonic Celtic for "valley thick with oaks"....
. She commenced operations as a single-deck vehicular ferry on the Bruny Island run on December 13, 1954, with a capacity of 22 cars. 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
Tasman Bridge disaster
The Tasman Bridge disaster occurred on the evening of 5 January 1975, in Hobart, the capital city of Australia's island state of Tasmania, when a bulk ore carrier travelling up the Derwent River collided with several pylons of the Tasman Bridge, causing a large section of the bridge deck to...
created an urgent short-term need for ferries operating across the Derwent River
Derwent River (Tasmania)
The Derwent is a river in Tasmania, Australia. It was named after the River Derwent, Cumbria by British Commodore John Hayes who explored it in 1793. The name is Brythonic Celtic for "valley thick with oaks"....
. The Melba, despite frequent strandings due to her deep draft, operated between Hobart and Bellerive
Bellerive, Tasmania
Bellerive is a suburb of the City of Clarence, part of the greater Hobart area, Tasmania, Australia. It stretches from Kangaroo Bay where it borders Rosny Park, around the curved shoreline of Bellerive Esplanade to Kangaroo Bluff, then down to Bellerive Beach and east to Second Bluff, where...
.
Mangana
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 RiverHawkesbury River
The Hawkesbury River, also known as Deerubbun, is one of the major rivers of the coastal region of New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its tributaries virtually encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney.-Geography:-Course:...
.
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
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
operators for use on the Bruny Island run, the Alexander Alison sunk on April 30, 1960 while being towed across the Tasman Sea
Tasman Sea
The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand, approximately across. It extends 2,800 km from north to south. It is a south-western segment of the South Pacific Ocean. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, the first recorded European...
. Seven months later, the Mangana was successfully towed across the Tasman, and commenced operations on the Bruny Island run on March 27, 1961. The Mangana was named for a Chief of the Bruny Island people, whose daughter Truganini
Truganini
Trugernanner , often referred to as Truganini, was a woman widely considered to be the last "full blood" Palawa ....
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 Manganas sister ship.
The Mangana, with a capacity of 37 cars, 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
Formerly the Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
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.
Move from Barnes Bay to Roberts Point
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.Mirambeena
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-SchneiderVoith-Schneider
The Voith Schneider propeller , also known as a cycloidal drive is a specialized marine propulsion system . It is highly maneuverable, being able to change the direction of its thrust almost instantaneously...
propulsion system.
When the Mirambeena is being serviced, other vessels operate the run. Recent replacements have included:
- M.V. Southern Condor
- Peninsula Princess (Australia)
- Kulanda