Australian commuter ferry enters service

Australia’s Port Phillip Ferries has introduced Bellarine Express for service between Portarlington on the Bellarine Peninsula and Victoria Harbour in Melbourne’s Docklands precinct.

Accommodating 400 passengers, the Incat-built Bellarine Express features a licensed café on board, bike rack storage, free Wi-Fi, charging stations for electronic devices and better table and seating configurations, including drop-down tables on the back of seats.

With a service speed of 28 knots, Bellarine Express is a 35-metre wave piercing catamaran. 

It includes six 65-person RFD life rafts and a 30-person RFD lifraft in cradles for rapid deployment. 

Little Group chairman Paul Little said the newbuilding’s low-emission engines made it one of the most environmentally friendly ferries travelling Australian waters.

Port Phillip Ferries is a privately-owned passenger ferry service owned by the Little Group.