PORT Macquarie maritime engineering company Birdon has signed a 20-year contract with Douglas Shire Council to design, construct, operate and maintain a new four-lane car ferry for the Daintree River.
The Daintree Ferry will be the seventh cable-drawn vessel to be built at Birdon’s Sancrox shipyard, west of Port Macquarie.
The project will deliver a safer, faster, and more efficient ferry service for residents, visitors, and tourism operators, improving connectivity in Far North Queensland and supporting the local economy.
Birdon CEO Jamie Bruce said the company was proud to have been selected to deliver the vital public service project and iconic transport link for the Douglas Shire and Daintree region.
“As a family-owned Australian company, we’ve been building and operating ships and ferries for nearly 50 years,” Mr Bruce said.
“We’re committed to delivering a modern vessel that will reduce wait times and enhance service reliability.
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the contract signing marked a major milestone.
“This is a huge step forward for our community.
“We’re excited to see Birdon’s expertise brought to the Daintree River.”
Birdon will take over operating the ageing three-lane ferry from July 2026, with its four-lane replacement expected to enter service at the end of 2027.
The new 49-metre-long, 16-metre-wide design will carry 36 vehicles – nine more than the current vessel.
Traffic modelling shows that the larger vessel, with its dedicated loading, unloading and priority lanes, will reduce queue lengths and waiting times in the peak season.
Birdon’s design and delivery timeframe will integrate with Douglas Shire Council’s upgrades to the roads and ferry approaches on both sides of the Daintree River.
Birdon operates eight cable-drawn ferries on behalf of Transport for NSW and conducts planned and corrective maintenance on cable-drawn ferries for multiple local councils.
Mr Bruce said the company’s experience and capabilities with cable-drawn ferries was a key factor in securing the tender.
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