Today SeaLink Travel Group Managing Director, Jeff Ellison announced the group, compromising of SeaLink and Captain Cook Cruises was investing $11 million into developing and improving Australian Tourism infrastructure and fleet throughout Australia.- including New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland.

An investment of $3 million will be injected into Sydney Harbour with the building of a new high speed passenger boat joining Captain Cook Cruise's fleet of 11 vessels. The boat, a sleek Rocket, is the first addition to the fleet since the MV Sydney 2000 and has been designed by local Naval Architect Incat-Crowther and is being built in Australia by Richardson Divine Marine (RDM) based in Hobart, Tasmania.
The Rocket will have two passenger levels, featuring indoor and outdoor seating for up to 200 passengers, eco-friendly fuel efficient design and equipped with the latest technologies that will help reduce her carbon footprint. The Rocket will also be the first true multi-purpose boat launching Sydney Harbour into the 21st century. The new generation design will balance efficiency with ruggedness, allowing her to operate in all corners of Sydney Harbour.

"We are really excited to be building a new vessel for Sydney Harbour, which we believe is a prototype for the future. It has been designed to be an eco-friendly and low cost efficient vessel, which will be operating by October this year.

The Rocket will operate as a ferry, transfers service and host sightseeing cruises especially the popular Hop On Hop Off service." Says Jeff Ellison, Managing Director of Sealink Travel Group and Captain Cook Cruises.
 

We will also be investing $1million on Captain Cook Cruises fleet on a refurbishment and engine replacement program for their Sydney Harbour flagship vessel, MV Sydney 2000.
 

“We are investing nearly $500,000 in a refurbishment of the main Show Deck on the MV Sydney 2000 and will have an Asian look and feel to cater for these growing markets.

We are also spending $300,000 on two new engines for the MV Sydney 2000 which will see the ship’s fuel efficiency increase by up to 9%, making her much more eco-friendly.” Explains Mr Ellison.
South Australia is also seeing large investments from the Sealink Travel Group, with a total of $5 million being spent in two very important regional tourism destinations.

On Kangaroo Island SeaLink Travel Group is building a new $4 million state-of-the-art passenger terminal at its port in Penneshaw.

Mr Ellison says SeaLink carries more than 200,000 passengers a year on our ferries to Kangaroo Island and the new terminal will provide the perfect welcome to one of the nation’s greatest natural landscapes,
 

The state-of-the-art, energy efficient terminal includes a café, a ‘last-stop-shop’ featuring Kangaroo Island gifts, wine and produce, an elevator (only the second one on the island), visitor information services, luggage storage and check-in areas. There’s even a covered air bridge over the water onto the ferry.
 

An undercover tour and shuttle bus passenger waiting area has been provided in the 645 square metre building along with modern amenities including disabled friendly restrooms and facilities. Environmental features include cross ventilation design, solar panels, rainwater harvesting for re-use and energy efficient windows.

On the Murray River in South Australia, the PS Murray Princess, which operates 3, 4 and 7 night accommodated cruises, is undergoing a $1 million refurbishment.

“The 60 cabins and staterooms and their bathrooms will see a complete refurbishment, while the paddlewheel lounges and dining room areas will undergo a soft furnishings makeover.

The high water levels of the Murray River has contributed to bookings being up by 10% compared to this time last year and we feel the refurbishments will only add to her allure and grandness.” Says Mr Ellison.

SeaLink’s operations in Townsville will receive a $1.3 million investment as our contribution to a bright future of Townsville, working closely with government and the corporate sector of North Queensland.
 
SeaLink's capital investment over 2012-2014 includes;

·     Committed to $1m upgrade of MV Reef Cat   in   2013-2014

·        Committed $200k to a new $1.7m government project to upgrade the floating pontoons on Palm Island

·        Completed in 2013 a $100k upgrade to Breakwater Terminal, Townsville 

SeaLink Queensland are also working with Council, Townsville Enterprises Ltd, Queensland Government and Local business on plans for the arrival precinct at Magnetic Island and investing into events and other tourism opportunities to build both national, international and Cruise ship tourism in the region.  

SeaLink’s is confident and excited in the future of Tourism in Australia and will continue its already $11 million investment in its operations to provide outstanding service to our customers.

For more information about the SeaLink Travel Group and Captain Cook Cruises visit  www.sealink.com.au or  www.captaincook.com.au

-ENDS-

For media enquiries and comment contact:

Brooke Tolar, Captain Cook Cruises, PR Manager on 0411 553 246 or at  pr@captaincook.com.au

SeaLink Travel Group, established in 1989, is a South Australian success story. As well as operating ferries to Kangaroo Island in South Australia, it runs ferries between Magnetic Island and Townsville in Queensland and owns Australia’s iconic Captain Cook Cruises on Sydney Harbour and river cruising on the Murray. SeaLink also operates 4WD, coach touring and charter businesses in Adelaide and on Kangaroo Island, wholesales to the trade, operates retail travel agencies in Adelaide and Sydney, a ski holiday transport and packaging business to the Victorian Alps, Vivonne Bay Lodge on Kangaroo Island and manages the Adelaide Central Bus Station facility.
Captain Cook Cruises established over forty years ago was purchased by the SeaLink Travel Group in November 2011. They operate daily dining, sightseeing, ferry and charter cruises on Sydney Harbour and three, four and seven night accommodated cruises on the Murray River in South Australia.

New High Speed Sydney Harbour passenger Rocket