Our Fleet

The Brisbane City Council ferry fleet, operated and maintained by RiverCity Ferries, currently consists of 26 CityCats, 1 CityFerry and 5 KittyCats.

CityCats
26 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:
8 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
Tuguluwa II – Bulimba
April 2024
*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 (currently being restored)
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
KittyKat on Brisbane River
Vessel name
Launch Date
Taylor
2020
Melany
2020
Eleanor
2020
Victoria
2020
Albert
2020