Our Fleet

The Brisbane City Council ferry fleet, operated and maintained by RiverCity Ferries, currently consists of 25 CityCats, 1 CityFerry and 5 KittyCats.

CityCats

25 Vessels

CityFerries

1 Vessel

KittyCats

5 Vessels

OUR FLEET

CityCats

Brisbane City Council’s CityCats have been an iconic feature of the Brisbane River since 1996. From NorthShore Hamilton to the University of Queensland, the CityCats regularly service 18 locations and provide an exciting and refreshing way to experience the city.

The CityCats are named after Indigenous place names around the Brisbane River, with the exceptions of Neville Bonner honouring Australia’s first indigenous parliamentarian, and the Spirit of Brisbane, dedicated to Brisbane’s community spirit following the devastating 2011 Brisbane floods.

First Generation

Numbers built:

8 vessels

Capacity:

149 Passengers

Engine:

CUMMINS QSM 11

Maximum Speed:

25 knots

Owner:

Brisbane City Council

Vessel names and meaning*

Launch Date

Kurilpa – West End

Nov 1996

Mirbarpa – Indooroopilly

Nov 1996

Tugulawa – Bulimba

Nov 1996

Mianjin – Gardens Point

Dec 1996 (no longer in service)

Binkinba – New Farm

Dec 1996

Mooroolbin – Hamilton Sandbank

Oct 1998

Baneraba – Toowong

Dec 1998

Barrambin – Bowen Hills

Nov 1996 (no longer in service)

*Indigenous names as translated by the early European settlers

Second Generation

Numbers built:

6 vessels

Capacity:

162 Passengers

Engine:

CUMMINS QSM 11

Maximum Speed:

25 knots

Owner:

Brisbane City Council

Vessel names and meaning*

Launch Date

Beenung-urrung – Highgate Hill

Aug 2004 (no longer in service)

Tunamun – Petrie Bight

Jun 2005

Meeandah – Spike of land below Hamilton

Feb 2008

Wilwinpa – Observatory

Jun 2008

Ya-wa-gara – Breakfast Creek

Nov 2008

Mahreel – Spring Hill

Apr 2009

*Indigenous names as translated by the early European settlers

Third Generation

Numbers built:

7 vessels

Capacity:

162 Passengers

Engine:

CUMMINS QSM 11

Maximum Speed:

25 knots

Owner:

Brisbane City Council

Vessel names and meaning*

Launch Date

Kuluwin – Wooloowin

Feb 2010

Gootcha – Toowong

Jul 2010

Walan – Herston

Dec 2010

Mudherri – Murarrie

Jul 2011

Spirit of Brisbane

Oct 2011

Nar-dha – Nudgee

Oct 2014

Gilwunpa – Nundah

Jun 2015

*Indigenous names as translated by the early European settlers

Fourth Generation

Numbers built:

7 vessels

Capacity:

170 Passengers

Engine:

CUMMINS QSM 11

Maximum Speed:

25 knots

Owner:

Brisbane City Council

Vessel names and meaning*

Launch Date

Yoogera - Breakfast Creek at Mouth

Nov 2019

Neville Bonner - late Indigenous politician

Aug 2020

Mianjin II - Gardens Point

Apr 2021

Barrambin II - Bowen Hills

Oct 2021

Mooroolbin II - Hamilton Sandbank

May 2022

Kurilpa II – West End

Dec 2022

Binkinba II – New Farm

July 2023

*Indigenous names as translated by the early European settlers

OUR FLEET

Other vessels

The Brisbane City Council Fleet also consists of three different groups of smaller vessels that are utilised for Cross River and free CityHopper services. Nine monohulls - consisting of three double decker CityHoppers, and six single CityFerries - were introduced between 1994 to 1993. These vessels, with the exception of Kalparrin, have since been removed from service. In November 2020, five small catamarans, nicknamed ‘KittyCats’ were introduced to the fleet to continue these services.

CityFerry

Numbers built:

6 vessels (1 remains in service)

Capacity:

53 Passengers

Engine:

Perkins

Maximum Speed:

8 knots

Owner:

Brisbane City Council

Vessel name

Launch Date

Bulimba

Jun 1984 (no longer in service)

Koopa

Jun 1986 (no longer in service)

Lucinda

Jun 1986 (no longer in service)

Gayundah

Jun 1987 (no longer in service)

John Oxley

Jun 1990 (no longer in service)

Kalparrin

Jun 1993

CityHopper

Numbers built:

3 vessels (0 remain in service)

Capacity:

78 Passengers

Engine:

Scania

Maximum Speed:

12 knots

Owner:

Brisbane City Council

Vessel names and meaning*

Launch Date

Doomba

1989 (no longer in service)

Mermaid

1987 (no longer in service)

Otter

1989 (no longer in service)

KittyCat

Numbers built:

5 vessels

Capacity:

60 Passengers

Engine:

CUMMINS QSB 6.7

Maximum Speed:

22 knots

Owner:

RiverCity Ferries

Vessel name

Launch Date

Taylor

2020

Melany

2020

Eleanor

2020

Victoria

2020

Albert

2020

RiverCity Ferries acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures, and Elders past, present and emerging.

Our Fleet

CityCats

Other vessels

Stay up to date