Sydney Ferries - How We Are Charting

How We Are Charting

Sydney Ferries publish performance results to inform the community about our safety and reliability on a monthly basis. For information on Safety and Environment statistics please see our Safety page.

For the Sydney Ferries Annual Reports please click here.

Please note: monthly historical performance figures published here are occasionally updated for prior months as a result of corrected performance data received from transport operators.

Performance data

What affects our performance?

We work hard to meet our on-time running goals, however the performance of our can be affected by a number of things.

Vessel problems

Problems like mechanical difficulties can affect how our vessels are running. Sydney Ferries has specially trained engineers rostered on each vessel who are able to fix smaller issues at the time, without having to take lengthy detours to our shipyard. This makes it easier for us to get your service back on schedule.

High passenger numbers

Sydney Ferries experiences high passenger numbers on some of our more popular routes and also during peak commuter times. This means services can be delayed while we safely allow passengers to board or disembark the ferry. To improve this situation, Sydney Ferries will employ a dual gangway system for quicker boarding and alighting, however this is not possible on all wharves or all vessels.

Berthing congestion at Circular Quay

On-time running can be impacted by berthing congestion at Circular Quay. Because Circular Quay is our "hub", if one vessel becomes delayed, it can affect the timely berthing of other vessels. Berthing can also be affected by diving operations, large passenger ships or maintenance of the wharves and pontoons. To alleviate this problem, Sydney Ferries is working with Sydney Harbour Control, NSW Maritime and NSW Waterways to coordinate the safe passage and berthing of all vessels at Circular Quay.

Severe weather conditions

During severe storms, fog or high swell, the speed and operation of ferries are limited to ensure safe travel and berthing is maintained - in the same way that motorists slow down in rainy weather.

Additional stops or combining services

On occasion a vessel may reach its safe legal capacity and is unable to take on any more passengers. In these instances Sydney Ferries may ask the following service, or a nearby service to make an additional stop at that wharf.

There are also instances where a scheduled service has been cancelled. Where possible, Sydney Ferries may combine ferry services (like the Mosman Bay and Taronga Zoo services) and make additional unscheduled stops.

Both of these situations can have an impact on on-time running.

Passenger illness

If a passenger on a ferry is in need of emergency medical attention and cannot be moved, then the ferry must remain at the wharf until medical assistance arrives. If either the Master or Deck Hand should fall ill then a replacement is needed before the ferry can continue its journey.

Transport connections

At some wharves, bus and ferry times are scheduled to connect. If a connecting bus service is delayed, Sydney Ferries may hold back the ferry to wait for that service, and this can have an affect on on-time running.

Performance exclusions

Sometimes our on-time running performance is affected by incidents that are beyond our control. These incidents are referred to as 'force majeure incidents'. On-time running data is recalculated to reflect what the result would have been, had the force majeure incident not occurred.

They can be caused by, but not limited to, the incidents listed below:

Elements/weather: floods, bush fires, landslides and washouts, lightning, storms, rough seas, earthquakes, cyclones, natural disasters and fallen trees or debris.
Unavoidable incidents: fires, explosions, gas leaks, loss of power supply, radioactive contamination, state emergencies, customer injury or medical emergency, fire brigade operations and incidents caused by other harbour operators.
Security incidents: bomb threats, suspicious packages, police operations, vandalism and customer disturbances.
This website displays adjusted and unadjusted figures relating to all incidents that meet the criteria of force majeure.

Annual Reports

Read more about Sydney Ferries' annual Key Performance Indicators and other corporate information in Sydney Ferries' Annual Reports.

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