The new Daintree River Ferry will be privately owned and operated, with predictions that the larger vessel, along with new landside infrastructure for loading and unloading will dramatically reduce waiting times for passengers.
The decision to outsource the ferry service, which is vital for tourists and residents north of the river, was confirmed during a Special Council Meeting held today.
Council will now tender to the market for a contractor to design, construct, and deliver the new vessel, as well as operate the ferry service under an initial agreement of at least 15 years.
To ensure the continuation of the ferry service, the Council aims to replace the existing vessel, which is at the end of its asset life, by no later than November 2027.
The new ferry will feature four lanes, compared to the current vessel’s three lanes, improving efficiency for queue lengths and waiting times by 90 percent.
Douglas Shire Mayor, Lisa Scomazzon, expressed her gratitude and excitement: “I would like to say a big thank you to the staff for all their hard work that has been put into this project. I am happy we are moving forward for our community, and I am quite excited to see what the new ferry is going to look like.”

