Australia: National tourism and transport operator SeaLink Travel Group has acquired Queensland-based Sunferries Group, which operates passenger ferry services from Townsville to the tourist location of Magnetic Island. It also provides a service to the indigenous community of Palm Island. The acquisition includes three catamaran passenger ferries, trademarks, licences, plant and equipment and a travel agency.
SeaLink's Chairman, Mr. Giuliano Ursini, said that Sunferries' Managing Director, Mr Terry Dodd, will be joining the SeaLink Board of Directors and the 70 existing Sunferries' staff would be retained.
As a result of Sunferries' 800,000 passengers, SeaLink will now carry about 1.8 million ferry passengers per year in South Australia, Queensland and New Zealand.
The purchase will also provide SeaLink with a fourth travel agency adding to those in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.