October 29, 2025
Australian maritime engineering company Birdon has signed a 20-year contract with Douglas Shire Council to design, construct, operate and maintain a new four-lane ferry for the Daintree River crossing.
The project will deliver a safer, faster, and more efficient ferry service for residents, visitors, and tourism operators, improving connectivity in Far North Queensland and supporting the local economy.
Birdon CEO Jamie Bruce said the company was proud to have been selected to deliver this vital public service project and iconic transport link for the Douglas Shire and Daintree region.
“As a family-owned Australian company, we’ve been building and operating ships and ferries for nearly 50 years. We’re committed to delivering a modern vessel that will reduce wait times and enhance service reliability,” Mr Bruce said.
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the contract signing marked a major milestone in the upgrade of the Daintree River crossing.
“This is a huge step forward for our community. We’re excited to see Birdon’s expertise brought to the Daintree River,” Mayor Scomazzon said.
Birdon will take over operations of the current ferry service from 1 July 2026, with the new ferry expected to enter service at the end of 2027.
The four-lane ferry will replace the ageing three-lane vessel, which is nearing the end of its service life. The new 49-metre-long, 16-metre-wide design will carry 36 vehicles, nine more than the current vessel.
Council’s traffic modelling predicts the larger vessel, along with dedicated loading and unloading lanes and a priority lane system for locals, will result in a reduction in queue lengths and waiting times in the peak season.
Birdon’s vessel design and delivery timeframe will integrate with Council’s major infrastructure upgrades to the roads and ferry ramps on both sides of the Daintree River.
Birdon is Australia’s leading cable-drawn ferry operator and has designed, built, operated, and maintained cable ferries for over two decades.
The Daintree Ferry will be the seventh cable-drawn ferry to be built by Birdon at its Port Macquarie shipyard in regional NSW.
The company operates eight cable-drawn ferries on behalf of Transport for NSW and conducts planned and corrective maintenance on cable drawn ferries for multiple local councils.
Mr Bruce said Birdon is an incredibly diverse business, but its experience and capabilities with cable-drawn ferries was a key factor in securing this tender.
“Our whole-of-life asset management capability means we’re focused on providing long-term performance, reliability and service quality for the Douglas Shire community.”