Manly Fast Ferry is an Australian ferry operator that services the areas of Botany Bay and Port Jackson.
History Since January 1965, the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company and its successors had operated high speed hydrofoil and later JetCat services between Circular Quay and Manly.
In December 2008, the New South Wales State Government, decided the Sydney Ferries JetCat service would cease and called for tenders to operate the service on a commercial basis.Calls for Expressions of Interest for Manly Fast Ferry Minister for Transport 9 December 2008
Bass & Flinders Cruises trading as Manly Fast Ferry commenced operating the service on 10 February 2009 on an interim basis until March 2010.Jet Car Withdrawal and Manly Fast Ferry Commencement NSW Ministry of Transport
On 1 April 2010, Sydney Fast Ferries commenced a five-year franchise to operate the service.Manly High Speed Ferry Service NSW eTendering 10 August 2009Contract Notice Award Detail NSW eTendering 8 March 2010 However Manly Fast Ferry continued to operate services between Circular Quay Wharf 6 and Manly East Pier via Taronga Zoo and Watsons Bay.Battle to be the last fast ferry on the harbour Sydney Morning Herald 9 April 2010
In July 2014, expressions of interest were sought for the next franchise with Bass & Flinders Cruises, SeaLink Travel Group, Sydney Fast Ferries and Transit Systems responding.Fast Ferry Service Contract between Circular Quay and Manly NSW eTendering 17 July 2014Opinions of commuters wanted on four fast ferry tenderers Manly Daily 12 November 2014Terry Dodd has each way bet on Manly fast ferries tender Sydney Morning Herald 3 December 2014 In December 2014, the franchise was awarded to Bass & Flinders Cruises.Cheaper fares, more services and new vessels for Manly Fast Ferry customers Transport for NSW 13 December 2014MFF wins tender Manly Fast Ferry 13 December 2014
Operations commenced on 1 April 2015 with three existing vessels from Bass & Flinders fleet along with two leased vessels. Four new Incat built vessels were delivered by the end of 2015, two were 24 metres long and two were 33 metres.Rough seas in new fast ferry deal involving the two current operators Daily Telegraph 26 March 2015Tasmanian shipbuilder Incat wins contract to build four Manly fast ferries ABC News 2 May 2015Incat scores multi-million dollar Manly ferry coup Hobart Mercury 3 May 2015 In 2017, the company ordered a third 33-metre fast ferry from Incat's Hobart shipyard.Hull 092 Incat
Bass & Flinders also operate an Eco Hopper tourist hop on/hop off service around Sydney Harbour from Darling Harbour to Manly calling at nine locations.Eco Hopper Bass & Flinders but by 2018 this name was no longer used.
In September 2017, Bass & Flinders was renamed Manly Fast Ferry and commenced trading as My Fast Ferry.Manly Fast Ferry ASIC 23 June 2018My Fast Ferry ASIC 28 September 2017
In December 2017, the business was purchased by the NRMA.NRMA invests in Manly Fast Ferry NRMA 7 December 2017 In October 2018, Fantasea Cruising was also taken over by the NRMA with 10 ferries and 10 water taxis on Sydney Harbour and Pittwater.NRMA acquires Fantasea Cruising NRMA 25 October 2018NRMA buys Palm Beach ferry service Coast Community News 5 November 2018 It continues to trade under its existing brand.
In December 2022, the government announced that the NRMA would continue to operate the service for a further 15 years, that the Opal card system would be utilised for Manly Fast Ferry services beginning in October 2023 and that the NRMA would facilitate the transition to new hybrid vehicles, allowing an 85 percent reduction in transport emissions.
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