Hobart's Harbour and the Derwent River is serviced by 4 Companies provide ferry cruise services, they are “Captain Fell's Historic Ferries”, “ The Cruise Company”, “Hobart Cruises” and “Derwent River Cruises”. Unlike Captain Fell's Historic Ferries with the exception of the Cartela which irregularly provides harbour cruises, the other companies have steel ferries and modern fast Catamarans. It is my belief that these ferries do not provide the opportunity to experience the historic atmosphere of Hobart and the inner harbour. The catamarans in particular by definition are fast ferries almost fully enclosed and provide the same atmosphere as an antiseptic airport lounge.

The Catamaran's get you from A to B fast; but if it's not a commuter ferry why bother? Remember your role is to relax and enjoy your stay. We believe visitors must take the time to “smell the roses”, if they are to have a unique experience and memories of Tasmania.

The Derwent River has a wide variety of wild life from permanent residence like fairy penguins to visitors such as seals, dolphins whales and shearwaters (mutton birds). If you are lucky and at the right time of the year, you may see fairy penguins feeding close to the boat, the odd seal or dolphins etc., or possibly thousands of shearwaters closely packed like a 'black cloud' swooping over the river. Unfortunately this is not the case with fast catamarans. Passengers are separated from the environment, can only see out the side tinted windows and they are travelling too fast to see and appreciate any wildlife on the water such as feeding ferry penguins, seals, dolphins etc, . Unfortunately their excessive stern wave contributes to a rapid erosion of sections of the river bank. At best disrupted feeding grounds, and worse will be mutilated river wildlife in the longer term risk if fast ferries are allowed to proliferate our sensitive waterways.

The only protection the Derwent River has against over enthusiastic operators of high speed catamarans on the Derwent and in historiccally sensitive Sullivan's Cove is public opinion. If readers, like us have concerns regarding this situation they should contact Marine Safety Tasmania
(Link-http://www.mast.tas.gov.au/domino/mast/newweb.nsf/v-html/fsContact) or the Ministerof Environment (Link- bryan.green@parliament.tas.gov.au).