River City Ferries, a key player in Brisbane’s public transport network, operates 32 vessels across 21 wharves along the Brisbane River under a 10-year contract with Brisbane City Council.
A core requirement of this contract is regular maintenance—inside and out.
The Problem
One of their biggest maintenance headaches for the team at River City Ferries? Marine growth.
Barnacles and algae build up on the hulls while vessels are in the water, leading to drag, reduced fuel efficiency, and, in some cases, damage to the hull itself. Their previous approach—manual scraping with hull scrapers—was slow, labour-intensive and only partially effective.
The Solution
To tackle the issue of marine growth, River City Ferries deployed the SPITWATER HP201 — a heavy-duty cold water pressure cleaner designed for industrial applications.
With its powerful performance and specialised accessories, the system delivered a faster, safer and more effective cleaning process.
The final recommended solution included:
- SPITWATER HP201 Cold Water Pressure Cleaner (3000 psi @ 15 LPM) - Delivers high-pressure performance capable of removing algae, soft growth and surface contaminants without damaging the hull.
- 30 Metres of High-Pressure Hose: Allows safe access around larger vessels without needing to reposition the unit constantly
- Turbo Lance: Cuts through grime and marine buildup faster than standard lances, improving overall efficiency.
Together, this setup transformed a previously slow, labour-intensive job into a faster, more effective process - saving time, reducing manual effort and protecting vessel performance.
The Results
Swapping out their traditional hull scraping method for the SPITWATER HP201 delivered immediate results:
- Significantly reduced cleaning time on each vessel
- Hull scrapers are now only needed for spot removal, not full-scale scraping
- Extended the lifespan of antifouling treatments by avoiding over-scraping
- Improved vessel turnaround times, reducing downtime and improving service availability
For operations like River City Ferries, where performance, compliance and operational uptime are non-negotiable, SPITWATER delivers reliable, Australian-made cleaning solutions that cut downtime and keep your fleet moving.
Why It Works
The HP201 combines high pressure with efficient water flow, making it ideal for breaking up algae and loosening marine growth without damaging the hull. Its extended hose length and Turbo Lance accessory ensure coverage even in hard-to-reach areas, streamlining what used to be a physically demanding job.
SPITWATER’s pressure cleaners are engineered for Australia’s harshest environments and toughest jobs—making them the go-to for marine operators who can’t afford downtime.
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