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One of Sydney’s new River-class ferries on Sydney Harbour.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

The problem-plagued vessels cannot pass under certain bridges on the Parramatta River if passengers are seated on thetop deck,while asbestos was found in the ferries before the government also confirmed they could not operate in the dark due to cabin reflection issues.

Problems with their engine and gearbox caused them to stall when put into reverse during emergency stops in extreme conditions.

Asked to outline the rest of the 43 defects,a spokeswoman for the private ferry operator Transdev said the majority of the 10 River-class vessels were already operating in daytime services,with the fleet expected to be in full service by mid-2022.

The spokeswoman said all the defects had either been “closed out” or fixed.

The first River-class ferry entered service in October 2021,more than a year later than scheduled. Repair work is being carried out on each of the vessels to improve the reflection issues.

NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns said revelations of the defects underscored why the state government must locally procure transport stock in the future.

“NSW taxpayers paid good money to import defective ferries while missing out on the hundreds of jobs that could have been created here,” he said.

“The failures on the NSW government’s overseas-built transport projects just keep coming.”

The government also confirmed in Parliament that the new Emerald-class ferries,which are replacing the Freshwater vessels on the Manly route,would never be able to be retrofitted with low emission battery technology.

“Transport for NSW understands that the intensity of higher speed Emerald-class operation could not be supported by a battery-electric system,” the government said.

In announcing Sydney’s train network’s transition to zero emissions last year,former transport minister Andrew Constance alsorevealed a plan to retrofit some of the harbour’s existing ferries with battery technology within five years.

However,the Transdev spokeswoman said the design of the River-class ferries meant they could be converted in the future.

“The vessels’ design supports the potential implementation of a battery-electric system in future,” the spokeswoman said.

The cost of leasing the new ferries is part of the $1.3 billion contract awarded to French company Transdev in February 2019,and includes the cost of operating Sydney Ferries for the next nine years.

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