Beer on the boat? CityCat passengers may soon be able to order drinks

Passengers could soon sip on beer and wine aboard Brisbane CityCats under a trial proposed by the city council.

A council spokeswoman said the council was considering a trial introducing licensed bars aboard the 10 new generation double-decker ferries, which make up about half of the current fleet servicing the Brisbane River.

The council expected the trial to emulate licensed ferry bars in other cities, including Sydney’s Manly Fast Ferry service, which offers snacks and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages along the 20-minute trip.

The council did not reveal staffing plans for the licensed vessels.

Ferry workers remained locked in an industrial dispute with RiverCity Ferries, following a series of strikes and work bans since the end of July.

Deputy council opposition leader Lucy Collier condemned the timing of the announcement amid the dispute.

“Brisbane’s LNP lord mayor thinks it’s fine for CityCat staff to be overworked and underpaid, and now he wants them to become bartenders and clean up intoxicated people’s vomit,” Collier said.

“Brisbane’s LNP lord mayor is only focused on the nice-to-haves instead of getting the basics right.”

Fifty-cent fares had encouraged a surge in ferry trips, with patronage growing by up to 50 per cent on weekends, data into public transport usage showed.

A new high-capacity CBD terminal was also planned for between late 2030 and early 2031.

A CityCat takes about 80 minutes to complete its full route spanning Northshore Hamilton to the University of Queensland.

The council said its 10-vessel licensing proposal had no exact timeline, although the company operating Brisbane’s ferries offers bar services aboard other routes within south-east Queensland.

SeaLink Marine & Tourism – which operates CityCats under local arm RiverCity Ferries – offers a fully licensed cafe aboard its North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) ferry.

The operator’s smaller passenger ferries to southern Moreton Bay Islands, including Russell and Macleay islands, do not offer food or drink onboard.

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