A confidential internal report has revealed even more serious defects in the overseas built Emerald Class 2 Manly Ferries which cannot be fixed by doing normal repairs on the vessels.
 

The report into damage caused to the Emerald Class Ferry ‘Fairlight’ revealed that its forward area bends in rough seas, causing serious damage to the vessel.
 

The report also found that the damage to the Fairlight would increase over time and that it was likely that these issues also existed on the other two Emeralds, Clontarf and Balmoral.
 

The report reveals that the the damage to these three overseas built ferries cannot be fixed by doing normal repairs, because ‘If the damage is simply repaired without addressing the cause any repairs are likely to be ineffective in the long run.’
 

Shadow Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said: Quotes attributable to Shadow Minister for Transport Jo Haylen MP:
 

“This damning internal report shows that normal repair works won’t be enough to fix the government’s defective, overseas built Emerald Class 2 Manly ferries.
 

“Manly ferry services have been cancelled and passengers have been left stranded because these overseas built vessels have serious and systemic flaws.
 

“The government’s failed procurement policies have real world consequences. Their decision to purchase overseas built ferries has led to a marked decline in the quality of ferry services on the Manly run and across the wider ferry network.
 

“The government’s obsession with buying overseas built ferries, trains and trams has cost thousands of jobs and billions of dollars while our transport services get worse and worse.
 

“Labor will build the ferries, trains, trams and buses of the future right here. That’s how we’ll make sure that passengers get a quality product.”

JO HAYLEN MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT