SMBI Resident Communication

SeaLink South East Queensland is delighted to announce that Ben Renwick has been appointed the new General Manager commencing Monday 27 February 2023. A highly experience senior leader, Ben is an influential and decisive leader who has achieved exceptional financial successes, strong and robust relationships within the marine industry, government, corporate and community sectors, and a high level of personal commitment, professionalism, and integrity.

SeaLink is delighted to have attracted Ben at the helm to continue our strong tradition of community service and to build upon the outstanding work that has been delivered for many years in connecting our customers and providing a major transport link from the mainland to North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) and Southern Moreton Bay Islands communities.

With a focus on Customer Experience we have updated our website, we also have an app to make keeping track of bookings easier.

To login to your account on the website click the person icon on the top right hand of screen and log in. To change a specific booking click ‘modify my booking’ and enter the booking number and email used for the booking.

To make checking the status of our ferries easier we now have a ‘next departure’ overview for the vehicle or passenger ferry. In the event of a disruption an alert button will show in this section too. If you click on the button, it will take you to our ‘ferry status’ page and provide additional information.

As services have opened to 02 July at present, we have also added a link (in the top orange bar on the website) for those wanting to be notified when later services open up.

TROUBLESHOOTING

As is sometimes the case when a new website is created there may be instances when the booking platform is not working as it used to, or it might be that somethings are not where you think.
If you have any feedback or are experiencing any issues, please email [email protected]. To help us offer correct support please include screenshots, the device / browser you are using to book and any other information so we can troubleshoot the issue to the best of our ability.

The team at SeaLink SEQ are committed to providing a reliable and safe connection between the Bay Islands and mainland. In June 2021 we announced our plans to invest over $17 million to redevelop the Redland Bay Terminal and construct 2 brand new vehicle ferries to service the Southern Moreton Bay communities.

Due to delays in the new vehicle ferries coming into operation, we have had to review the operation and modify plans to accommodate the communities requirements. There have always been plans to modernise the fleet and due to the delays, we must adjust the timetable as we work towards the changed arrival timeframes.

Whilst we understand the timetable changes may not be ideal, we have increased capacity and will be using additional ferries to accommodate the demand. In order to provide additional capacity, from 22 May until 02 July we will be operating Quandamooka out of Cleveland 5 days a week, which can hold up to 50 cars and has a café on board.

Timetable changes

There will be two timetables loaded onto our website, the first is in place until 21 May 2023 and the second will be in place until 02 July 2023. The timetables are relatively similar however some of the vessels we are using will change due to planned maintenance. From Sunday 23 April until Sunday 14 May 2023 (inclusive) we will be operating a two-vessel timetable on Sundays. From 22 May until 02 July we will be operating services from Cleveland / Dunwich to the Bay Islands.

The Cleveland service is bookable over the phone and on the website for travel from 22 May until 30 June.
At present we recommend only booking one way when booking the Cleveland service online. Simply click on the arrow in the Route section and select ‘From/To Cleveland’ then choose the departing location and arrival destination as usual (note the service from Cleveland only operates to Macleay and Russell Islands).

Once you select your route and departure / arrival destination, click the calendar icon to select the date of travel (note this service does not operate 7 days a week so the days the service does not operate will be greyed out).

Why are there delays to the new vehicle ferries?

Unfortunately, there have been several factors contributing to the delays. COVID, fires, staff levels, and delays on parts have all had an impact.

Why are there changes to the vehicle ferry timetable?

Due to delays with the new vehicle ferries and ongoing planned maintenance requirements of our existing fleet we have had to make changes to our usual timetable. There will be two timetables loaded onto our website, the first is in place until 21 May 2023 and the second will be in place until 02 July 2023.

Can I book all vehicle ferry services online?

Yes, in order to reduce the impact of the changed timetables we will ensure any additional services are bookable online via our Bay Islands website or SeaLink Go Blue commuter app.

Will my Resident / Ratepayer discount work on the Cleveland service?

Yes, any additional services or routes we create will be eligible for the resident/ratepayer discount for those who have a profile and registered vehicles.

Will my Resident / Ratepayer discount work on the Dunwich service?

No, however, the fare for this service will be the resident mainland rate of $64.50 (one way).

How far in advance will I be able to book?
Services will initially be bookable through to 02 July 2023. Usually services would be loaded in until 31 March 2024; however, with the new vessels arriving this year, we will need to load services in phases (this year only).

Where can I find a copy of the upcoming timetables?

All timetables will be uploaded as a PDF to our website.

Can passenger’s travel on the Dunwich / Cleveland services without a vehicle?

Yes, passengers can call 07 3488 5300 and pay for a ‘walk on’ ticket the same as they would for the SMBI vehicle ferry. Please note this service does not permit passengers carriage of dangerous goods.

Can people book one way on this route and a different route to return?

Yes, however they will need to book two one-way trips to do this.

Will the service be bookable from both the NSI website and SMBI website?

This service is available to both NSI customers and SMBI customers, however, to book all customers must use the Bay Islands website.

If you do not have a Resident profile and would like to apply you can do so via our website. Please note to qualify for a permanent island resident discount, you will need to fill out the application form and supply one of the below vehicle documents for each car that you would like to nominate for the resident discount.

• Vehicle registration certificate (the document must list an island address or area concession to be accepted).
• Vehicle Renewal Notice (will list island address).
• Vehicle Insurance Document (will list the garaging address of the vehicle – this needs to be an island address or the SeaLink Cleveland carpark).
• Screenshot of TMR Home Page once logged in (this will list the island address and vehicles registered to you).

SeaLink SEQ strives to support as many organisations, schools, communities, and groups as possible through our Sponsorship Program. Our priority this year is to provide an accessible sponsorship program that promotes the development and growth of the region and can expand our reach as a proud supporter of those activities within the community.

Our revitalised Sponsorship Program framework provides an opportunity for SeaLink to support new partnerships within the islands that have not previously benefited from SeaLink’s support as well as ensuring our longstanding partnerships continue to provide benefit to the island communities.

The 2023 Sponsorship application process is now open. To apply fill out the application form on our Community page on our website. All applications will be reviewed as per our sponsorship criteria and a response will be provided to the applicant within 14 working days. Please ensure any applications provide sufficient time for consideration, as unfortunately, we are not able to expedite any requests.