 Dawn Fraser in Darling Harbour in December 2014 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders |
|
| Operators | |
| Completed | 7 |
| Active | 1 |
| Retired | 1 |
| Scrapped | 5 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Catamaran |
| Length | 37.0 metres |
| Beam | 10.5 metres |
| Draught | 1.4 metres |
| Decks | 1 |
| Installed power | 2 x GM 8V92TA |
| Propulsion | 2 Shotell rudder/propeller drive |
| Speed | 22 knots |
| Capacity | 230 |
| Crew | 3 |
The Sydney RiverCats are a class of catamarans operated by Transdev Sydney Ferries on the Parramatta River.
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.
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On 16 February 2023, Betty Cuthbert was the first vessel retired from service. [9] 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On 7 June 2024 Evonne Goolagong was withdrawn. [10] [ 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. [11] [ 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On 28 October 2024, Nicole Livingstone was withdrawn from service and was used for parts at Balmain Shipyard before being moved to Rozelle Bay, followed by a final movement to Yamba under tow where she was broken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. The introduction of the Parramatta River-class ferries allowed for the remaining RiverCats to be phased out. [12]
On 4 February 2025 Marlene Mathews was withdrawn from service.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 July 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 will continue to see service for the time being, and will most likely be withdrawn after the current[ timeframe? ] summer period concludes.
| Photo of vessel | Name | Call sign | MMSI | Builder | Shipyard no. | Year in service | Namesake | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 MV Betty Cuthbert at Circular Quay, 2016. | Betty Cuthbert | 18555 | 503376100 | NQEA | 1992 | Betty Cuthbert | Scrapped | Withdrawn 16 February 2023 | |
 MV Dawn Fraser at Circular Quay, 2023. | Dawn Fraser | 18554 | 503376200 | NQEA | 1992 | Dawn Fraser | In service | ||
 MV Evonne Goolagong at Cockatoo Island, 2023. | Evonne Goolagong | 18705 | 503376300 | NQEA | 186 | 1993 | Evonne Goolagong | Scrapped | Withdrawn 7 June 2024 |
 MV Shane Gould near Homebush Bay, 2025. | Shane Gould | 18642 | 503376700 | NQEA | 184 | 1993 | Shane Gould | Undergoing scrapping | Withdrawn 30 September 2025 |
 MV Marlene Mathews passing Cockatoo Island, 2024. | Marlene Mathews | 18643 | 503376600 | NQEA | 185 | 1993 | Marlene Mathews | Scrapped | Withdrawn 4 February 2025 [17] |
 MV Marjorie Jackson near Barangaroo, 2025. | Marjorie Jackson | 18706 | 503376400 | NQEA | 187 | 1993 | Marjorie Jackson | Scrapped | Withdrawn 3 |
 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. |
In 1997 'Marlene Mathews' collided into a small wooden boat around Cockatoo Island. [18]
On 23 September 2005 'Betty Cuthbert' collided into the bollard at Circular Quay Wharf 5 East and damaging the front bow. [19]
On 11 January 2006 'Betty Cuthbert' collided into 2 moored vessels at Fern Bay. [20]
On 7 August 2006 'Betty Cuthbert' collided into a Luxury Cruiser in Woolwich. [21] [22]
On 24 September 2006 'Evonne Goolagong' collided into a Skiff near Cockatoo Island, injuring 2 people. [23]
On 5 January 2007 'Dawn Fraser' collided into a dinghy in Sydney Harbour, injuring 2 people. [24]
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. [25]
On 7 October 2013 'Marlene Mathews' crashed into Circular Quay Wharf 5 West, injuring 6 people and damaging the front bow. [26]
Media related to Sydney RiverCats at Wikimedia Commons