The high speed Jet-Cat ferry service connecting Manly with Circular Quay is no more. This competitor to the slower but traditional Manly ferry was discontinued because the government considered it unreliable - and too costly to maintain.
It seems likely that the River-Cats presently serving Parramatta to Circular Quay may also be numbered.
Sydney has one of the best harbours in the world, and yet using it as a means of moving commuters is declining.
The key to operating a successful ferry service is to use vessels that are economical in both cost of servicing and running - and which carry a large number of passengers on each trip.
When the owner of this service is the state government a different equation applies. The tax payers demand that fares to kept in moderation - and not necessarily covering costs - and that the times of service suit individual needs, not just the most popular journey times.
Very few things the state government runs makes a profit. The rail system and the ferry service operate at a huge loss and annual drain on government revenue.
In all fairness, few - if any - world rail systems make a profit, and the ferry service just discontinued was previously owned by private enterprise - which failed commercially and went broke.
Which brings us to a fact of life. Big, slow ferries are the cheapest to maintain and run - and they carry the most passengers.
Smaller, faster ferries use more fuel - are more complex in design and maintenance - and carry fewer passengers.
We are therefore faced with a dilemma. If we persist with fast ferries a realistic fare will probably reduce patronage and make them a further drain on the tax payer's purse - or ferry passengers will simply have to accept longer journey times and make do with the older, slower existing services.
The state government claims to be negotiating with private enterprise to install a privately run Manly-Circular Quay fast ferry, but given previous history there is little chance that this can be commercially successful.
Maybe its time to face reality and slow down - and use the morning and evening commute to appreciate this beautiful, world class harbour !
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