A keel on the Swan is a start. The wharves are still a tender.
Jason Rieck · Cat Cruisers · Gold Coast · 30 September 2026
On 26 June 2026, The Driven reported a keel-laying ceremony that week for the first of five battery-electric ferries on Perth's Swan River. Henderson shipbuilder Echo Marine Group is designing and building them for the Metronet on Swan ferry expansion, a project The Driven prices at $107 million.
My take, early. A keel is a real milestone. It is not a ferry you can catch, and the article still has the new terminals out to tender.
What is being built
The expansion adds a route from the existing Elizabeth Quay terminal to new terminals at Matilda Bay and Applecross. Echo Marine won the five-ferry contract late in 2025, the article says ("late last year" from a June 2026 piece). One2Three Naval Architects are the design partners. Lloyd's Register signed on as maritime adviser in March.
Each ferry is specified to carry 100 passengers, with a maximum operating speed of 25 knots. The Driven says the new services are expected to start from late 2027.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti is quoted on local jobs and a larger, more accessible ferry option for commuters and visitors. The state was also running a tender for the new terminals, closing in August.
Specs in the piece
- Five battery-electric ferries
- 100 passengers each
- 25 knots maximum operating speed
- Project figure: $107 million
- Service hoped for from late 2027
- Terminals named: Elizabeth Quay, Matilda Bay, Applecross
The article does not give a battery size, a charge time, a range, or a motor brand. I am not supplying them.
Honest caveats
"Expected to be operational starting from late 2027" is a timetable in a June article. It is not a promise I can treat as kept.
When The Driven published, the terminal tender had not closed. This draft does not check whether that tender has since been awarded. No result is in the source.
A keel on boat one of five is the start of a build, not a fleet. The other four are not described as already in the water.
Where it meets a Cat Cruisers
I build trailerable electric boats on the Gold Coast. We charge from shore power and use the boat for camping. There is no Echo Marine or Metronet partnership here.
A 100-passenger commuter ferry and a trailer boat share the idea of plugging in at the end of a run. They do not share a spec sheet. I will watch whether late 2027 survives contact with wharves, charging and a real roster.
catcruisers.com.au · 0426 531 750
Sources
1. Joshua S. Hill, The Driven, "Construction starts on first of five new Swan River electric ferries", 26 June 2026. https://thedriven.io/2026/06/26/construction-starts-on-first-of-five-new-swan-river-electric-ferries/ (accessed 30 September 2026).