This is a case where TfNSW, as owner of the vessels, should have acted
with far more due diligence in overseeing both the original specification
and, later, the timetable, having regard to the specification - in this
case, not approving a timetable that would require the vessels to
constantly run flat-out, or alternatively specifying engines of sufficient
power that could perform the desired timetable without being run flat out.
It's like the trams with the fixed trucks. TfNSW lacks the necessary
in-house expertise to make the right decisions and exercise the necessary
oversight on these projects. There are two ways out of this one. Slow down
the journey time, which partly defeats the objective, or re-engine the
entire Emerald fleet (because the problem applies to all of them, not just
the newer second series).
Tony P
On Wednesday, 8 February 2023 at 16:16:57 UTC+11transit...@...
wrote:
> Surely you mean "Irresponsible Department"?
>
> Dudley
> On 7/02/2023 4:27 pm, Greg Sutherland wrote:
>
> Responsible Minister : Minister for Transport. This Minister(s). As
> well as ferries this Minister is responsible for trams and electric trains
> as well as other bits and pieces.
>
> Responsible Department: Transport for NSW (TfNSW). Enough said.
>
> Responsible Operator: Transdev, a favoured TfNSW provider of ferry
> services, trams and numerous bus services in Sydney.
>
> There are plenty of erudite members of this group, not just in Australia,
> and a lot of lurkers who appreciate background information which they would
> not have available from their normal industry sources.
>
> I have made no comment on the original article, rather I have posted it
> for general information.
>
> I am sure Yarra Trams and PTV are following these developments closely.
>
> Greg
>
>
> On 7/02/2023 4:11 pm, TP wrote:
>
> Electric ferry then is it Greg?
>
> Before the inevitable comments - the engines are by Yanmar, a century-old
> and very experienced Japanese diesel engine manufacturer, as many satisfied
> boaties will confirm. Faults can occur on any product, but only if they're
> not manufactured in Australia do they provoke knee-jerk responses by NSW
> Labor politicians.
>
> Second, a general observation. The much-vaunted Australian-built
> Freshwaters were plagued by control system issues, resulting in failures,
> groundings and collisions, for some *twenty* years before they were
> finally resolved. Just saying, because we're getting plenty of this "it
> wouldn't happen if they were built in Australia" at the moment. No matter
> where something complex is built, there's a likelihood of faults. A post
> from somebody on ATDB about a month ago:
>
> " There were a lot of control system issues that occurred for decades on
> the Freshwaters. *Collaroy *in particular is the problem child as it has
> a totally different control system design, which is the main reason it's
> being retired and *Queenscliff *was refit, because at least the latter is
> mostly identical to *Freshwater*. But they all had various issues with
> the integrated control systems.
>
> A couple of crashes happened in 2005 ( https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/tp/fi
> ... -final.pdf
> https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/tp/files/35617/IR-Collaroy%20March%202005-final.pdf
> , https://www.otsi.nsw.gov.au/sites/defau ... -final.pdf
> https://www.otsi.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/otsi_assets/documents/reports/IR-Narrabeen-final.pdf
> ) , which is perhaps what Collins was referring to in terms the 20-year
> timeframe from the mid-80's. I think Sydney Ferries and its suppliers at
> that time didn't have a full appreciation for the numerous failure modes
> the electronics could present, as well as the poor reliability of these
> compared to other marine components. Better training and procedures were
> needed as well, as indicated by the *Narrabeen *crash, which actually
> injured people (I don't think the Emeralds have caused any passenger
> injury?)
>
> I think the *Freshwater*-class are safe enough now, but as Collins said,
> it took way too long to sort this out. They were hardly perfect as a
> certain modern narrative seems to make out"
>
> This is without even mentioning the Australian-made Millenium trains or 86
> class locos for example.
>
> Those new NGR trains to be built in Queensland will be costing some 100%
> more than if they were built overseas. They'd better be absolutely
> flawless, otherwise, no doubt, the SMH will be reporting every little
> hiccup for us [not].
>
> Tony P
>
> On Tuesday, 7 February 2023 at 15:27:45 UTC+11gregsut...@...
> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/new-manly-ferry-suffers-catastrophic-engine-failure-on-sydney-harbour-20230207-p5cikt.html
>>
>>
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