Birdon has marked a significant milestone in the delivery of the new Daintree River Ferry, with a keel laying ceremony held on Thursday 18 June 2026 at Birdon’s Port Macquarie shipyard, where the vessel is being built.
A keel laying ceremony marks the symbolic birth of a ship, representing the formal transition from engineering design to physical construction. Historically, it is celebrated as the first major milestone in a vessel’s lifespan. The keel laying marks the point at which the project physically takes shape, transitioning from early fabrication into major hull assembly and structural construction. It is one of the most important milestones in the build of any vessel, providing a visible indication of progress and momentum toward delivery.
Construction of the new Daintree Ferry commenced in January 2026 and is progressing through clearly defined build stages. The new vessel is scheduled to enter service in late 2027, replacing the existing ferry which is nearing the end of its service life.
The new ferry is a four-lane, cable-drawn vessel designed to significantly increase capacity and reliability for the Daintree River crossing. At approximately 49 metres long and 17 metres wide, the ferry will carry up to 36 vehicles per crossing, compared with 27 vehicles on the current ferry, helping to reduce queue lengths and wait times during peak periods.
Sarah Yuen, General Manager Assets and Services, said the keel laying represents both a technical and people milestone for the project.
“Today’s keel laying is a major step forward in delivering the new Daintree River Ferry, a vessel the Daintree region relies on every day. It marks the transition into core structural assembly and reflects the skill, planning and commitment of our production and project teams.
Our focus remains on safety, quality and reliability at every stage of the build, and on delivering a ferry that supports dependable service outcomes for residents, local businesses and visitors.”
Birdon is delivering the project under a full lifecycle model, designing, building, operating and maintaining the ferry under a 20-year contract with Douglas Shire Council. This approach is intended to ensure long-term performance, consistent maintenance standards and service reliability across the life of the asset.
Birdon will commence operations of the existing Daintree Ferry service from 1 July 2026, ensuring continuity of service while construction of the new ferry continues. The transition includes local maintenance arrangements and a dedicated local operations team, supported by Birdon’s experience delivering greater than 99 per cent service availability across comparable ferry operations in remote and regional locations.
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the keel laying milestone provides reassurance for the community and demonstrates tangible progress on a project of critical importance to the region.
“The Daintree Ferry is an essential service for our residents, businesses and tourism operators, and this milestone is an important sign that the new ferry is taking shape.
Council is pleased to see construction progressing and to continue working in partnership with Birdon to deliver a modern, reliable ferry that supports the long-term needs of the Douglas Shire community.”
Birdon recognises the environmental and cultural significance of the Daintree region and the importance of operating responsibly and transparently in a World Heritage-listed area. Project communications will continue to focus on clear, timely updates at meaningful milestones so the community has visibility, understands what is happening and knows what to expect as the new-build project progresses.
Further updates on construction milestones and ferry operations will be shared via the Daintree Ferry website and official communication channels.
